Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

  • Young Thespians wanted for outdoor Shakespeare

    THAME Players are looking for enthusiastic, young, local people who are interested in theatre, the arts or events.

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    Volunteers are needed for their performance of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, set to take place in July. It will be an outdoor performance, set in the picturesque surroundings of The Elms, off the Upper High Street, Thame. This year marks the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.

    The play is to be directed by David Bright, who said that the Players’ performance of Much ado…will be “…frothy and light hearted. Our aim is to give audiences a delightful summer evening’s entertainment, with this whimsical rendition of one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, set in the Gatsby era,” he explained.

    Volunteers are primarily needed to work backstage to assist in the seamless changeover of props and scene changes. There is also likely to be a need for ushers and other front of house roles, to ensure guests are comfortable in the outdoor environment.

    The Thame Players hope that volunteers will be able to benefit in a number of ways from the experience, which could serve as a useful ‘foot in the door’ for youngsters, potentially leading to further opportunities in the performing arts. Working on a performance such us this would also provide the ideal chance to network among members of the Thame Players, many of whom are well-connected themselves within the theatrical world. David himself is happy to speak to and provide advice to volunteers interested in going forward within theatre.

    He concluded: “Depending on how auditions go, there might even be the opportunity for one or two volunteers to get a part in he play!”

    This would be an ideal opportunity for any budding drama or events students looking to gain some practical experience in the field. However, anyone is welcome, as it would also suit those who are unsure about what they want to do and would like to try something new. In return, volunteers will need to give up a few hours of their time in July in order to take part. Anyone who would like to find our more or to express their interest, can contact Helen Johns at helen.johns39@gmail.com.

  • Friday’s Thame News niblets

    SOME very exciting ideas are already brewing for what promises to be a spectacular Thame Festival and Carnival, following a planning meeting on Wednesday, for people interested in helping organise this year’s event.

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    The meeting, under the Chairmanship of Sue Martin Downhill of Racquets, Thame, brought together representatives from several local organisations, including Thame Youth Theatre, Thame Day Centre, Black Frog Studios, Thame Round Table, Thame Lions Club, the MP Cricket Academy and Thame Town Council.

    The event’s new Chair, Sue Martin Downhill, still wants to hear from local clubs and groups who would like to get involved in the festival, the theme for 2014 being ‘The World of Sport & Recreation. She particularly would like lots of music to characterise the carnival procession this year and would like to hear from any musicians or music groups who would like to take part, and dancers who could perform in the arena at Southern Road Rec. after the carnival, Martial Arts and other Arts groups.

    Contact: suedownhill@gmail.com for more information.

    THAME Town Hall is currently draped in protective plastic as stone restoration work is going on. It’s all part of a phased series of works to rescue the building’s crumbling fabric and replace rotting window frames etc

    SPRING has sprung and a wonderful treat is in store for 40 very lucky ticket holders to enjoy a Champagne Afternoon Tea and Garden Tour at Le Manoir. If you would like to be one of these lucky people then pop to the Thame Food festival website http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk/champagne-afternoon-tea-and-garden-tour-at-le-manoir-monday-2nd-june-2014/ to book tickets online.

    The Thame Food Festival takes place from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, September 27, in the heart of Thame town centre.

    OXFORDSHIRE’S household waste recycling centres have been given the thumbs up by the county’s residents. In a survey the centres received an overall satisfaction rating of 92%.

    The proportion of people who were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received was almost 70%.  The survey posed questions on things including how helpful the staff were to site opening times and the information available on the website.

    TALKING of cleaning up, there will be more time for a spring clean at Oxfordshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres when the county council extends the opening hours of its recycling sites next month. From April the seven Oxfordshire County Council Household Waste Recycling sites will be open until 8pm on a Thursday, in addition to the normal hours of 8am-5pm every day (including Sundays).

    More information about the sites and a full guide as to what can be recycled can be found at: http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/waste, or by calling 08450 50 45 50

    LOADS of great EVENTS going on in Thame this weekend:
    Tonight (Friday), 21/03/2014 – 7:45 pm – 9:45 pm – Whose Wine is it Anyway?
    Thame Players Theatre, Thame

    Saturday – 22/03/2014 – 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm -Thame Chamber Choir – Triumph and Tragedy
    St Mary’s Church, Thame

    Also Saturday, Thame Cinima 4 All, Filth (18) – 8.00pm (doors 7.30) Thame Players Theatre

    Then, on Sunday 23/03/2014 – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Distinguished Company – Another Evening of Words and Music at
    The Players theatre, Thame.

    Full details: https://www.thame.net/events

  • UPDATE 22.00 hrs: Thame by-pass now reopened following serious accident

    THAME bypass is currently closed (17.15 hrs) due to serious accident near Travelodge end, coming towards Thame from Oxford. …. Emergency services on scene. Diversion through Thame Town centre. A witness described seeing what she thought was a blue Ford Fiesta, a red VW Beetle and a second blue car.police_RTC_sign (400x250)

  • ‘Gold’ students rewarded by the Palace

    A GROUP of former Lord Williams’s students recently attended a reception at St James’s Palace where they received their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. The Award is the culmination of several years’ involvement in a range of challenging activities including expeditions, volunteering in the local community, undertaking physical activity and developing new skills & interests.

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    Emily Baker and Jamie Goetz proudly show off their awards

    Former students receiving the Award were: Emily Baker, Mark Doulin, Sophie Gedge, Jamie Goetz, Katie Hall, Anna Osborne and Clare Thompson. One of the participants, Mark Doulin, said: “It was very nice to finally get to see the Palace and receive my Award. It was a lot of hard work but I am very pleased to have completed it. The DofE has led me onto the Mountain Leadership Award and other mountain adventures and it makes me very proud to look at the certificate hanging on my wall. I look forward to all the new adventures the Award inspired me to pursue.”

    The Headteacher of Lord Williams’s School, David Wybron, added: “To achieve Gold in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award represents a very impressive achievement. Our students have been successful because of their strength of character, resourcefulness, enjoyment of teamwork and service to others. They will be joining a special band of young people.”

    As well as the students who were lucky enough to attend a ceremony at the Palace, students in Years 10 and 11 attended a presentation evening for the Bronze & Silver Awards at Lord Williams’s on March 13.  In total, 45 Silver Awards and 98 Bronze Awards were presented by Oxfordshire DofE Manager, Andy Pope and Headteacher David Wybron. This year a further 28 students at Lord Williams’s are pursuing their Gold Award, 50 students working at Silver level and 140 students working towards their Bronze Award.

    David Wybron added: “This would not be possible without the continued support of local volunteers and a wide range of community organisations, clubs and societies that welcome the young people into their regular activities. There are now over 90 adult volunteers involved in helping run the award in the Thame area, which is now in its 12th year.

    “Also this month, seven of our DofE students were nominated for the Oxfordshire Pride Award at the Oxfordshire Youth Awards. The students who were nominated are Greg Forgan, Thomas Goetz, Daniel Kovacs, Peter Murphy, Luke Nixey, Richard Surridge and Milos Tasic. The Pride of Oxfordshire Award celebrates young people who have shown courage and inspirational resilience in the face of challenging life circumstances. These DofE students demonstrated positivity and strength of character in their determination to lead a successful life.”

  • NEW DATE: Proposed new business development – public consultation

    site_b_business_development (400x400)BIRMINGHAM-based commercial property developer, Stoford, is seeking planning permission for the development of the employment site allocated in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

    Working on behalf of haberdashery distributor, Groves, and print and production house Windles, Stoford intend to apply for planning for 100,000 sq ft and 49,000 sq ft respectively for warehouse and production facilities.

    A public consultation will be held at ThameTown Hall on  Friday 28 March 10am – 7pm  for residents to view and comment on the proposals for Site B, and to speak with the developers directly.

    The developer has stated that at least 70 new jobs could result from this development.

  • JOB: Electrician wanted

    Engineer required‬ – if you are a qualified 17th edition electrician and want to join our growing team working across the UK please call James on 0800 978 8988 – Critical Power Supplies Ltd, Thame

  • Small Business chief responds to Chancellor’s budget

    THE Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), has generally welcomed the Budget, saying that it shows progress on economic recovery and maintains the momentum for growth aspirations. However it does have some concerns, including the lack of the inclusion of  small businesses in the Flooding Re Scheme and the new-style £1 coin.

    Chair Thames Valley Federation of Small Business, David Knowles Leak
    Chair Thames Valley Federation of Small Business, David Knowles Leak

    David Knowles Leak, FSB Thames Valley Regional Chairman,  said: ““The Government has been very supportive towards businesses and households hit by the severe flooding earlier this year. But, small businesses will remain at a disadvantage at not being included in the Flood Re scheme. Businesses in flood-hit areas were hit with an average cost of £1,531. More than a third (37%) of FSB members in these areas expect it to be more difficult to renew their insurance and more than half (59%) expect their insurance to become more expensive as a result of being left out of the Flood Re support scheme.”

    On Energy, David said: “We are pleased to see how seriously the Chancellor is taking the cost of energy. Without addressing the issue, especially in manufacturing, jobs could be lost to abroad. 

    “Our first quarterly Small Business Index for 2014 shows utilities remain the main cause for rising business costs for more than half of small firms and as a result the FSB has continuously called for action on energy taxes and increased transparency in energy prices. Small firms want these overheads reduced, and for reforms to energy markets to make the market fairer for these customers.”

    Regarding the Chancellor’s announcements on house building, he said: “Extending Help to Buy on new build properties and committing to a new development in Ebbsfleet will maintain increasing confidence in the construction sector, which has risen significantly in the past year. To continue to build on this increasing optimism the Government needs to ensure that small firms can access contracts and work. The financial support announced for small house builders will therefore be welcomed.”

    David had some reservations about the announcement of the new-style £1 coin. “Small firms who deal with low priced items are more likely to be effected by fake currency but we do have concerns about the extra costs of introducing a new pound coin. For example small firms may have to pay out to replace machinery. But, there is no doubt that counterfeit coins and notes can seriously damage the business. Not only are they worthless but a small business could be prosecuted if they pass them on,” he said.

    He concluded: “This was always going to be a ‘steady-as-you-go’ Budget for business, designed to get the UK’s financial affairs in order. The Chancellor delivered a Budget to maintain positive momentum in the economy, while incorporating fiscal prudence. Today’s Budget offered a clear signal for businesses to grow through the increased investment allowance, and with a focus on manufacturing. The £7 billion package to cut manufacturing energy bills will help create jobs and strengthen this key sector.”

    You can read the full statement on FSB Thame Valley’s website here LINK including reaction to the help with childcare and for exporters announced today.

  • Mayor hopes charities will ‘pocket’ proceeds from Snooker Knockout

    THE Mayor of Thame, a keen snooker player himself, wants other snooker players to join him in taking part in a Charity Snooker Knockout in aid of his chosen charities, Thame Players and Thame SAFARI (Self Advocacy For Adults Requiring Independence).

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    The Mayor or Thame, Peter Lambert attempts to pot the brown in preparation for his Charity Snooker Knockout (Image by Frank Millar)

    The Charity Snooker Knockout will start at 7pm on Thursday, March 27, at Thame Snooker Club in Wellington Street, Thame. The entry fee is £5 which includes all table time while playing. There will also be a few tables with free use during the tournament but the Mayor, Cllr Peter Lambert, hopes that a donation will be made.

    The Mayor, who usually plays snooker twice a week,  has emphasised that there is no need to book a place in the tournament, just to turn up on the day at 7pm to take part.

     

  • Run, walk, cycle or roll a mile for Sport Relief 2014

    THE number of Thame people and organisations taking part in Sport Relief 2014, is growing and Thame Lions Club has announced that it will be hosting a Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile and is inviting everyone to take part.

    Jack Shrimpton and Martin King, from Racquets Fitness Centre, Spin for Sport Relief back in 2012
    Jack Shrimpton and Martin King, from Racquets Fitness Centre, Spin for Sport Relief back in 2012

    “Come on down and walk, jog, run or roll the Mile through stunning scenery, including the Phoenix Trail and Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve,” exhorts Thame Lions Club on the Sport Relief websitehttp://www.sportrelief.com/

    So, “Grab your friends and family and snap up your place at The Thame Lions Mile today!” Full information can instructions for entering can be found here http://my.sportrelief.com/search/event/result?id=1872&location=thame&event-type=run

    Racquets Fitness Centre has loaned out four of its Spinning bikes to local businesses,  CPM, Nationwide Bank, McCormack Spices and Sainsbury’s for their fund-raising events. During Sport Relief weekend, the Centre will be hosting the Squash Inter-county over 45s weekend, and will be showing Sport Relief on its TVs and running a Zumba class on the Friday night, March 21, at 6.15pm and all Thame residents are welcome to go along to the centre in North Street, Thame (at the back of the Cattlemarket) for a small donatin to Sport Relief.

    Sport Relief 2014 runs from Friday, March 21, to Sunday, March 23.

  • Retail apprentice wanted in Thame

    Retail apprentice wanted at Whats Cooking in Thame http://bit.ly/1ook2iN

    What's Cooking's premises in Cornmarket, Thame
    What’s Cooking’s premises in Cornmarket, Thame

    This role will involve serving customers, taking orders and payments and dealing with customer enquiries as well as being involved in the sales promotion and merchandising of the food products within the shop. Apply here http://bit.ly/1az8cco and search for vacancy ref 403955