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  • BREAKING NEWS: Music Festival teams up with BBC Introducing

    THAME TOWN MUSIC Festival has today announced that BBC Introducing will be part of the next festival on Saturday, July 11, 2020.

    This year, 2019, the free festival, held in Thame town centre and eight other venues around the town, attracted an estimated 12,500 visitors. In 2020 the organisers are adding a special dedicated BBC Introducing stage overseen by radio presenter, Dave Gilyeat and his team at BBC Introducing in Oxford, to highlight young, emerging talent.

    Dave commented: “We are really happy to get involved with Johnnie and Thame Town Music Festival. I’ve always noticed how they’ve given slots to several bands we’ve supported over the years, which has been great, so we’re delighted to become part of the cause! There are some fantastic new acts coming through and we are dedicated to helping achieve the opportunities, recognition and success they deserve.”

    Festival Director, Johnnie Littler said: “We are thrilled to be working with Dave and his BBC Introducing Oxford team to help showcase great new music from the area. It is part of our mission to give emerging talent a platform to perform, and to reach a new and wider audience. We have found a kindred spirit in Dave who has long been a vigorous champion of new acts and the best of the new breed.”

    BBC Radio 6 Music DJ, Tom Robinson, who was an early supporter of TTMF added: “I’m delighted this great festival is going from strength to strength.”

    Well done Thame Town Music Festival and BBC Introducing – a great partnership!

  • All is True – at Thame Cinema

    SCREENING in association with Thame Art and Literature Festival, this is an affectionate, wry and slightly melancholy contemplation of the later life of William Shakespeare.

    It is 1613, and the Globe theatre has burned down during a production of Henry the VIII (All is True) because of a misfiring canon. Will decides it is time to pull up stumps and return home to reflect on his long career and spend more time with his family. But what he imagines as a peaceful retirement is, instead, a process of reckoning with long neglected familial tensions and regrets.

    A mixture of fact and fiction, and written by Ben Elton – whose Upstart Crow for the BBC also goes behind the scenes of the domestic life of Shakespeare – this film eschews all-out bawdy comedy of that programme in favour of a more wistful and poignant take on late middle age, regret, and grief. The emotional heart of the narrative is the death of Anne and William’s son, Hammet Shakespeare, 17 years earlier at the age of 11, a loss that William has never confronted and from which Anne has never recovered. Also at stake is the question of parenting, and the consequence of one parent’s pursuit of fame and glamour at the expense of those left behind, notably Dench’s Anne Hathaway, and their cranky and resentful daughter Judith.

    You really cannot go wrong with a cast of this calibre, and Branagh’s film delivers all that you might expect of great writing, masterful storytelling, and exceptional performances. And you might learn something about Shakespeare’s celebrated 2nd best bed. View trailer .

    Saturday October 19, 8pm – All is True – UK, 2018, 100 minutes, 12A certificate – Director Kenneth Branagh; Starring Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen
    Please note: Tickets for this event must be purchased from the TAL website or box office: for details of how to buy a ticket visit https://talfestival.org/box-office-details/

  • Government letter an ‘unacceptable intervention’ into local democracy’

    FOLLOWING a letter from Communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, ordering SODC ‘not to take any step in connection with the adoption of the Plan, while I consider the matter further,’ the Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Sue Cooper, has issued a statement. It reads:

    “A direction from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government means we are currently unable to take any steps in connection with the adoption of the (Local) Plan, which meant it was necessary to withdraw the agenda item to discuss the plan from the October 10, Council meeting. I would like to reiterate our apology to all members of the public who had travelled to the meeting and didn’t get a chance to take part in a local democratic process.

    Leader of SODC, Sue Cooper

    “This last-minute move from the government is an unacceptable intervention of national government into local democracy. The Secretary of State removed the democratic right of South Oxfordshire councillors and residents who turned out in great numbers to exercise those rights through listening, debating and voting in public on a matter of great importance to our district, and who have now been unfairly silenced.

    “This is all a great disappointment to district councillors in South Oxfordshire who remain committed to doing the right thing for the needs of residents and communities within our district. Throughout this process, we have taken a reasonable and responsible approach and will continue to do so.

    “We welcome the Secretary of State’s invitation for our officers to discuss our next steps with his officials. I have asked officers to continue to work constructively with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and all our local partners to work towards ensuring positive outcomes for all our residents and communities, and the removal of the Secretary of State’s direction.”)

    Last week SODC’s cabinet was ready to discuss an vote on a recommendation of the Council to scrap the existing draft plan altogether and start again. (See previous story for background HERE)

  • Changes to Arriva 280 Bus Service

    CHANGES have been made to the 280 service as from November 3, 2019, to help improve punctuality. Buses will continue to run at the existing weekday frequency of every 15 minutes between Oxford and Haddenham, and every 30 minutes Oxford to Aylesbury, but the times will change slightly.

    Most journeys that currently terminate at Haddenham & Thame Parkway will be extended through Haddenham to terminate via a loop of Churchway, Stanbridge Road and Woodways.

  • Transport expected to be the service most hit by a ‘Halloween’ Brexit

    AGENCIES across Oxfordshire have been working together to prepare for the UK potentially leaving the EU on October 31. Although there is national uncertainty about the short-term impact of Brexit, the Government has asked Oxfordshire councils to highlight that they are prepared to respond to any foreseeable potential impact on public services for which they are directly responsible.

    Image of Waitrose’s new ultra, low carbon vehicle – Courtesy of gray-adams.com

    Short-term risks to public safety and normal daily life have been assessed by emergency planners in Oxfordshire and remain ‘low’, though Transport and the supply chain is expected to be the service most hit by disruption, for instance for managing lorry traffic to or from the south coast ports.

    Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer and Oxfordshire County Council lead Brexit planner, said: “All the councils and other agencies have been working well together to plan for Brexit, including leaving the EU without a deal. There are already plans in place to cover foreseeable types of short-term disruption to public services that are delivered by local partners in Oxfordshire.

    “Overall we believe the risks to public service delivery are low. The biggest risk of disruption is to transport and the supply chain, for instance managing lorry traffic to or from the south coast ports.

    “In fact, plans for this kind of disruption had already been made. The Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum role includes managing the impact of major disruption to strategic roads in the area which are being reviewed in the context of Brexit.

    “The government has asked to closely monitor potential impacts of Brexit on local businesses. We recognise concerns expressed by local employers. Oxfordshire councils stand ready to provide any practical support within their powers to local businesses. This could include identifying specific Oxfordshire impacts and relaying those to the government.”

    Mark Stone, Chief Executive of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils, said: “We’re not expecting any significant impact on our part of the country, but we hope our residents are reassured that we have been working together across Oxfordshire to ensure the councils here are well prepared.”

    Links to specific information and advice for businesses and individuals can be found HERE

  • Looking for some squash this weekend ?

    WELL, you’ve come to the right place! Raquets in Thame have three, 100up tournaments this Saturday coming, October 12, suitable for all ages:

    Juniors – from beginners to elite 12noon to 2pm
    Adults D/E grade – 2pm to 4pm
    Adults A/B grade – 4pm to 6pm
    C graders can choose (D/E or A/B depending on who else has entered!)

    It’s World Squash Day – October 12, 2019

    Watch the US Squash Open final at Racquets Fitness Centre, North Street, Thame (behind the Cattlemarket) on the day.

    For more details and to book, go to http://www.racquets-fitness-centre.com/racquets-world-squash-day-2019/

    So what is a ‘100up tournement’?

    A 100up tournament is two hours of everyone playing everyone else for short matches. Everyone keeps their previous score thoughout the two hours. It’s fun. It’s a lot of exercise. Just two hours. Meet and play lots of different people.

    PLUS

    Do you have an old wooden or aluminium squash racket in your loft ? Take in your old squash racket on World Squash Day Saturday, October 12, 2019, to Racquets, and they’ll swap it for one of the following:

    £25 off our 5 week ‘learn to play squash’ membership. Usually £75.
    So just £50 for 5 week platinum membership including a group squash coaching session each week.

    Or

    £20 off a new squash racket

    Or

    A half price individual coaching session

  • Explore the town’s art scene by taking the Thame Art Trail

    IN just nine days’ time, Thame Art Crawl returns for a third year, running alongside the ever popular Thame Arts & Literature festival – celebrating its own 10th anniversary.

    This pop-up art exhibition will showcase a wealth of creative talent in specially selected venues and windows around Thame’s Town Centre. Visitors are invited to pick up a map of the Art Crawl from Thame Town Hall, or one of the participating venues listed below, and stroll around the town of Thame, enjoying the opportunity to discover the work of local artists.

    The artists exhibiting are:
    *Lindsay Dutton and Andrea Brewer exhibiting at White Stuff
    *Stuart Feurtado with a promenade exhibition in the shops along Greyhound Walk
    *Mandy Bennet exhibiting at The Deli at No 5
    *Gerry Coles and Rebecca Rason Flor Ferreira exhibiting at Pretty Like Pictures
    *Debbie Farrell, Janet Dunkley and Kerry Newth exhibiting at fitch & fellows
    *Liz Dury and Satnam Bains exhibiting at AGA Thame
    *Cate Wise and Muffat Prague exhibiting at FROM
    *Derek Witchell exhibiting at Fat Face
    *Jackie Birchall exhibiting at Robert Stanley Opticians
    *Janine Philips and Henry Castle exhibiting at Priestend Farm Barn

    More details about each of these fabulous artists can be found on the Thame Art Crawl website at www.thameartcrawl.com

    As well as the artists above, the event will also include the work of James Ward RA 1769 – 1859. Ward was a prominent painter of his time and today pieces of his work can be found hanging in galleries including the Tate Britain. This small exhibition has been curated from a private collection, owned by members of his family who have been living in Thame for many years. This will be displayed at Thame Museum www.thamemuseum.org

    Throughout the Saturday and Sunday (The event runs from 17 – 19 October) along side the Art Crawl trail there will be additional exhibitions by Thame Art Group and Sally Evans events, as well as workshops hosted as part of the Thame Arts & Literature festival including calligraphy and sculpture for adults, and three exciting workshops for children. Details about these and everything else that’s going on over this exciting weekend, visit: www.thameartcrawl.com

  • ‘Vale of White Horse Local Plan Part Two should be withdrawn’

    FOLLOWING the news that SODC are likely to scrap its emerging Local Plan 2032 (see LINK), the countryside campaign group CPRE Oxfordshire are demanding that Vale of White Horse District Council should withdraw its Local Plan, Part Two.

    In a letter to Vale of White Horse Councillors, CPRE Oxfordshire stated that the Plan should not be adopted until the Oxford Local Plan has been examined and the City’s unmet (housing) need properly assessed.

    Green Belt land should not be sacrificed, believes CPRE Oxfordshire – especially when it is as open, and as close to designated environmental areas and precious villages, as it is at Abingdon airfield. Read the letter in full on the CPRE website HERE

  • Three concerts to celebrate 60 years of performing

    TO celebrate its 60th year of singing, Thame Choral Society has chosen two very different items for its Christmas and Spring concerts in this anniversary year.

    Thame Choral Society rehearsing

    On December 7, at St Mary’s Church in Thame, TCS will be performing the Mass in D Major, Op. 86 by the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, together with some Christmas carols and seasonal songs. Then on April 18, 2020, again at St Mary’s in Thame, they will be singing one of the most popular works in the choral repertoire, Handel’s Messiah, last performed at their 50th anniversary concert with Director Colin Spinks. Hence so fitting to revive this iconic work, this time with orchestral accompaniment, for the choir’s 6oth.

    Then, in a complete change of style and following the success of their In the Mood concert this summer, TCS members will be presenting A Night at the Movies on Saturday, June 20, 2020, possibly making a return visit to St Mary’s church, Haddenham, although this has yet to be finalised.

    Three fabulous, top notch concerts for appreciaters of good quality choral singing, to leave these three diary dates free for!

    To discover more about Thame Choral Society, visit their Facebook page HERE the website here LINK 

    ** If you would like to become a Friend of Thame Choral Society, and receive regular news letters, ‘early bird’ ticket offers and other perks, or become a sponsor to help with orchestra and Conductor fees, programme printing costs etc, please complete the email form HERE

     

  • Thame photographer shortlisted in Xperience Awards

    THAME portrait photographer Mark Hewitson has made the shortlist as a finalist in the prestigious Xperience Photography Awards.

    Talos

    The Xperience Awards, run by the Xperience Group, is a competition with entries from professional portrait studios across the UK and Ireland. Attracting thousands of entries every year the awards celebrate creativity and excellence in photography. Mark’s finalist image has been shortlisted in the ‘Top Dog Creative’ category and features long haired Chihuahua, Talos playing with bubbles during his session.

    A thrilled Mark said: “To be shortlisted as a finalist in such a prestigious and highly contested awards is a huge honour and I am delighted that my work has been recognised to be both of excellent quality and creativity.”

    The winning images in the 2019 Xperience Awards will be announced in November with the client of the overall winning image in each category receiving a 20 inch, beautifully framed wall art which will undoubtedly take pride of place on their home.

    If you would like a portrait of your dog to be in with a chance of winning the 2020 Xperience Awards, you can contact Mark at http://markhewitson.co.uk/ or on 01844 278015.