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THE  historic community project, Thame Remembers is officially launched today with an invition to local people to help lay crosses of remembrance around the world at the graves of 190 men from Thame who have died in conflicts in the last 120 years.

A team of volunteer researchers has spent four months tracking down details of the Thame men who died in the First and Second World Wars, the Boer War and Korea, painstakingly identifying where they were killed or laid to rest. A few are buried in St Mary’s Churchyard in Thame and many more in France and Belgium.  The remainder ended their days in far-flung locations, including Greece, Italy, Egypt, Iraq, India, New Zealand and Tanzania. Some died at sea. The project aims not only to formally record the histories of these men but also to involve the community in a unique act of commemoration.

Project co-ordinator Mike Dyer said: “We are appealing to anyone with an appropriate connection to the men or the town to help us lay a Thame Remembers cross on the grave of each serviceman and to formally record the moment. Whether they are a relative who would like to join a planned trip to the battlefields of France or Belgium, or a resident who happens to be going abroad on business or holiday, the project would love to hear from anyone inspired to take part.”

Volunteers will be given a special Thame Remembers two-bar cross for each ceremony. This is a recognised representation of the Holy Cross which the people of the town chose as its emblem in the early years of the Second World War.

A project website – thameremembers.org – provides full details of how to get involved and will record the cross-laying campaign as it develops. The team has also produced a special promotional video, shot in Thame, which re-creates a soldier’s departure from home and experience of war. The video can also be seen on the website.

Thame Remembers was the brainchild of David Bretherton, a local councillor and former RAF engineer who was instrumental in creating Thame Museum. He said: “We wanted to mark the 1914 anniversary with something which would involve the community directly in honouring these men and leave a lasting legacy of research and commemoration. I am confident the people of Thame will rise to the challenge.”

Mike Dyer added: “We have already found some striking human stories. Many are tales of tragic heroism, but occasionally there is a happy ending. For instance, one man whose death is marked on a memorial turns out to have survived to live a full life. We don’t know why his name appears there.”

On August 3, the centenary of the eve of the outbreak of war, the project is hosting a special public event – ‘100 Years On, Thame Remembers’. It will promote the project to the community and feature the first cross-laying at St Mary’s Church, displays of munitions and research into WW1 tunnels, and a vigil at the church.

A poignant film to commemorate the 400 men from Thame who fought in the First World War, and those who died, has been made by Thame Museum in conjunction with Thame Town Council.

The film was directed by Ian Stark, and the crew and cast include town councillors, and the ex Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert was behind the camera for some of the scenes.

Many of the world war artifacts in the film were provided by Ian Jones, a local collector of military items, who also plays the part of a French farmer in the film.

The film is all part of a year of commemorations under the title of Thame Remembers, which includes an exhibition at the museum which runs until August 20. The film and the website:  www.thameremembers.org will be going live next Tuesday, July 8, 2014.

THE PROJECT

The aims of the project, Thame Remembers, is to research all the names on Thame War Memorials to discover more about their lives, to indentify the location of their grave or memorial and place a “Thame Remembers!” cross on each resting place, wherever in the world that may be.

The project wants to bring home to the people of the town how many people have lost their lives and how
important it is that we never forget what they have done for our country.

MORE about ‘Thame Remembers

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following the theft of a vehicle from Thame.

Between 9am and 11:45pm yesterday,  Thursday, July 3, offender(s) smashed a window at a property in Pickenfield, reached in and stole car keys before stealing a blue Jaguar XF R V8 from the driveway.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message please call the police on 101.

Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

A Thame group petitioning against any development on land known as The Elms, is using a planned outdoor Shakespeare event to gain support for their cause.

The group is urging residents to go and see the site for themselves by attending the Thame Players production of Much Ado About Nothing, to be hosted in the grounds next week, and are asking all supporters to wear something yellow to show their support

The Elms Petition Group is giving its full support to the forthcoming outdoor production hoping that it will increase the awareness of exactly what the group fears will be lost, if The Elms is developed into a housing estate. It wants those attending to wear something yellow, such as a t-shirt, jumper, ribbon, socks or for the more adventurous, yellow trousers.

Speaking on behalf of the group, local resident Peter Webb said: “We are delighted to see The Elms is being used for a public performance such as this. We thoroughly commend the current custodian of The Elms, Simon Vickers for opening up the grounds of his retirement home to the people of Thame in the same spirit that previous custodians including Leonard Purser have done before.

“The Elms was previously owned by local entrepreneur Leonard Purser, whose family eventually sold The Elms to Simon Vickers, owner of development company, Rectory Homes, in 2010. For decades during the mid 1900, The Elms grounds, including the field was opened up to the residents of Thame for an annual Fete. The rest of the year, the field was used by local farmers as pastureland for grazing their livestock. This practice has now ceased.”

Mr Webb went on to say: “The groundswell of support opposing the development of The Elms has never been greater and this is an ideal opportunity for the town to see exactly what it is going to be lost if development goes ahead. We encourage all town residents and friends to support their local theatrical group by attending this production but we ask that you wear something yellow to show your support to save The Elms.”

Any member of the public can sign the Elms Petition by using the online petition at Change.org, by sending an email to: elmspetition@hotmail.co.uk, by signing in person at Petcare in Cornmarket, Thame, or by phoning the Elms Petition Hotline on 01844 555112.

For more information please contact: Peter Webb – 01844 212057
Website: http://www.elmspetition.org.uk/ 

Petition: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/thame-town-council-sodc-reject-all-development-of-elms-field-in-thame-oxfordshire
Twitter: @elmspetition

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elmspetition

Much Ado About Nothing is being performed in the grounds of The Elms from July 8-12.
Tickets for the production are available online http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/56135
NB The Elms Petition Group has no official connection to Thame Players.

Elms Petition Group
The Elms Petition group has stated that it has collected over 1200 signatures across a paper based petition, email petition and the online petition at change.org, 99% of which are Thame residents.