COULD you provide transport for a few blind and partially blind people from within Thame to their club at the Lower School? A driver and car is needed every other Wednesday during term time to drop off at 10am and pick up at approximately 1pm.
If you can help, please contact Jean Mander on 01844 212983
A Memorial cricket match is to be held to celebrate the life of a former captain of Thame Cricket Club, and all-round outstanding sportsman.
The match will be held in the summer between a Ray Hawes XI & a Nigel Cassidy X1, to commemorate the life of Ray Hawes, who died in November 2013, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA age 75. He was an outstanding local sportsman at cricket, golf, squash and table tennis. He captained Thame Cricket Club in the 1966 & 1967 seasons scoring thousands of runs during his time there, including a record breaking 1537 runs in 1964, averaging 48.83, with his highest score of 148 not out v Buckingham.
Ray moved to Aylesbury CC in 1969 where he became the first batsman for 20 years to score 1,000 runs in a season. He went on to captain the club for many years in 1970s. He represented Bucks & Devon over-50’s.
The Ray Hawes XI will be captained by his nephew, Steve Cooley, another past captain of Aylesbury, & will include his son Geoff, who lives in the USA managing Ray’s businesses, and his teenage American grandsons. The opposition will be provided by a Nigel Cassidy XI captained by his son, Darren. Nigel Cassidy died in 2008 age 62. Nigel is an Oxford United legend, a centre forward who made 116 appearances between 1970-74 scoring 33 goals. He was also an accomplished club cricketer. After retirement from football he became an hotelier in Cornwall. He & Ray were good friends.
The match in on Sunday, June 29th, 2014, at Thame Town CC’s ground at Christ Church Meadow, Thame, starting at 2pm.
A Thame-based mechanical machinery manufacturer has celebrated its 35th year in the UK market, by donating one of its best selling utility vehicles to the town council.
Kubota UK employ over 100 staff at its Thame HQ in Dormer Road, and the donation of an RTV900, which will help council workers keep the town looking its best, is just one of many initiatives planned as part of the company’s year-long celebration.
“Thame has been our UK home for many years, and we’re extremely proud to continue to play a role in this thriving community,” said Dave Roberts, Kubota UK Managing Director, who has worked at the company for 22 of its 35 years in the UK.
“The Kubota brand has gone from strength to strength since 1979, with many of our staff born and raised in the area. Building links with local business is vital to us, and we’re delighted to be able to show our gratitude to the town council, who have long been a valued and key customer of ours.”
Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Lambert was at the presentation and congratulated Kubota. “This generosity is greatly appreciated and I’m sure the RTV900 will prove to be extremely useful in helping the council maintain our beautiful town,” he said.
EXCITEMENT and support is growing for the Great Worminghall Bake Off , which today announced that celebrity baker, Lottie Duncan, is to judge the competition. Lotte is well known in the food and baking community both locally and nationally and is patron of the hugely successful annual Thame Food Festival.
Lotte will be joined by fellow foodie, Worrminghall’s very own ‘Queen of Cakes,’ Lissie Mead. The two judges will be tasting cakes with themes such as ‘My Holidays’ and ‘Great Britain’.
Lotte said : “I’m thrilled to be asked to judge this event. It’s great to see a small community come together to raise money for local and international causes and at the same time have fun and get to know each other better.”
The event will take place in the Village Hall in a Worminghall on Sunday, February 9, from 3-5pm. Would- be bakers can sign up by visiting the pop-up cafe which runs for another two Saturdays, February 1, and 8, from 10am-12.30pm. Registration is £2 and entrants will receive a copy of the recipes, rules and regulations. Places are limited and on a first come, first served basis. Entry is not restricted to Worminghall residents.
The three categories are as follows:
Under 8s
9-13 years
Adults (14 years +)
Worminghall residents, Kathryn Albany-Ward and Lex Brown, decided to organise the pop up cafe to bring their local community together on a Saturday morning to raise money for their local village hall and the Karibuni charity for Kenyan street children. Kathryn said: “‘Since the shop closed in Worminghall a number of years ago, there has been nowhere in the village to meet friends and for the children of the village to spend pocket money. We hope that holding the cafe and tuck shop will encourage the whole village to get together to raise money for two great causes as well as getting to know each other and, through the Bake Off, have a bit of fun.”
Email worminghallcafe@gmail.com or see www.facebook.com/worminghallcafe for further information.
The Karibuni Trust (UK Charity No. 1044872) aims to raise awareness of children living on the streets and in the slums in areas of urban and rural extreme poverty in Kenya, and to raise money to support projects to meet their needs. The children could be orphans, abandoned children or runaways who must support themselves on the streets by begging, stealing or scavenging. Karibuni also supports projects run by Kenyans and is currently working with a Maua Methodist Hospital to provide care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Further information can be found at www.karibuni.org.uk
PLANS for the fifth Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) Gemstone Midnight Walk have been announced, as the ever-popular ladies’ night-time challenge returns on Saturday, July 12, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the hospice – with 25 silver places up for grabs for MEN!
In this very special Silver Jubilee year, the Hospice Charity is encouraging friends and family members to nominate a partner, husband, brother or granddad, who might like to take on the six or 13-mile challenge alongside over 700 ladies, and explain why they should be awarded one of the special silver walker places.
There are only 25 places available and the ballot for these will open on Saturday, March, 8, to tie-in with the official launch of the Gemstone Midnight Walk in Friars Square Shopping Centre, 10 am-4pm. Nominations for these silver places must be received by Midday on Friday, April 25, (terms & conditions apply) by emailing 25@fnhospice.org.uk. Alternatively, you can nominate your special ‘man’ by post to the Charity head office – details at www.fnhospice.org.uk Representatives from the Charity will then select the lucky 25 participants, who will be donning the pink flashing bunny ears and taking to the streets of Aylesbury (starting at Aylesbury College) at Midnight.
Along with 25 silver places on offer, there are a few new twists to this year’s walk, including changes to the previous route (to be announced) and splashes of silver throughout the night in celebration of our Silver Jubilee year, as well as the trademark bunny ears!
The last four Midnight Walks have raised over £250k for the Florence Nightingale Hospice, and it is hoped that this year’s event will tip that figure over the £300,000 mark. Last July, hundreds of flashing bunny ears lit up the Oxford Road as 754 ladies (a record turnout) strode out from Aylesbury College to undertake this formidable challenge in aid of the local Hospice. FNHC Development & Events lead, Karen Shardlow, is keen to see that number increase once again: “We’re always very lucky to have so many men come forward and marshal our Midnight Walk, so we thought it would be great to involve a few of them in the walking itself in our very special year. We’re really looking forward to seeing how well our lucky few men can do alongside so many women – bunny ears compulsory of course!”
She added: “With a few surprises to be announced in celebration of our 25th anniversary, we’re hoping our fundraising goal looks even more achievable. We are offering 25 ‘silver places’ exclusively to men, who want to show their support for the Hospice. This will be the first time male walkers have been invited to participate in this event, and those lucky few will be asked to commit to a special sponsorship target of £500.”
The Charity is also appealing for willing male and female volunteers to help marshal or help set up the event again this year: “The en route support provided by all the marshals from the local community, including the Buckinghamshire Freemasons, is an incredible boost for walkers and adds to the fantastic camaraderie that characterizes the evening, as well as ensuring the safety and well-being of all our walkers,” added Sam Heggie, FNHC’s PR & Marketing Manager.
Ladies who would like to take part can register their interest via the dedicated Gemstone Midnight Walk website www.gemstonewalk.co.uk or contact the Fundraising Team on 01296 429975 before main registration launches on March 8th.
A number of celebrity faces have lent their support to the walk over the years, including Aylesbury lass Lynda Bellingham, singer Tony Hadley, actress Anita Dobson and local footballer Emmerson Boyce.
The Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) needs to raise over £600,000 this year to keep essential in-patient and at-home services running for local families affected by life-limiting illness across Aylesbury Vale and surrounding area.
SOURCE: Contributed
RESIDENTS of Thame and throughout South Oxfordshire wanting to get more active can take advantage of a month’s unlimited swimming at the local leisure centre from February, for just £5.
Unlimited £5 vouchers are available for members of the public who currently do less than 30 minutes physical activity per week, to use at Thame Leisure Centre, Henley Leisure Centre, Didcot Wave and Abbey Sports Centre. The offer is available between February 1, and March 31.
The scheme is primarily aimed at encouraging both men and women who find it hard to increase their activity levels to give swimming a go.
A recent survey by Sport England showed that less than 40 per cent of people in South Oxfordshire do 30 minutes or more moderate physical activity per week. The World Health Organisation recommends that people should do two and half hours moderate activity per week, with physical inactivity estimated to cost public health up to £940 million a year.
The unlimited swimming initiative is being provided by Better Leisure Centres in partnership with the Go Active Get Healthy and Active Women projects, and being administered by South Oxfordshire District Council. Last year when Active Women ran a similar promotion the scheme was so popular that all vouchers were claimed shortly after the launch. Following demand from the public this year the scheme has been opened up to everyone so that men can take advantage of the offer too.
One set of free swimming vouchers each are available to those aged 16 plus. To apply for the vouchers sign up at www.getoxfordshireactive.org. Alternatively you can email swimming.south@southandvale.gov.uk or call 01491 823 135.
Vouchers are strictly limited to 500, and will be given out on a first come first served basis with one set of vouchers available per person.
A young, world-ranked squash player from Thame, has spoken about how tennis player, Stanislas Wawrinka’s win against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open over the weekend, inspired him not to give up after his own defeat.
Will John, a former pupil at Lord Williams’s School, Thame, is currently playing in a PSA (Professional Squash Association) event in Canada, and was seriously thinking of giving up squash after a 3 – 0 defeat in a qualifying final at Bankers Hall PSA Challenger 10, match in Calgary, last Thursday (23/01).
A downcast Will wrote in his blog: “Today I lost 3-0 against Reiko Peter world ranked #119. If I don’t get some results soon I will be reconsidering my future as a squash player……….maybe I should go to university and have a great time. Maybe get a job and earn some money. Go out a lot more. Have a car. Be independent. That all sounds quite nice to me! So why am I still here? Why am I still doing this? Travelling half way around the world to still under achieve. Something won’t let me stop. There is a drive within me. But that is on thin ice now. I am going to do everything I can to make this step forwards but I don’t know if it is going to be enough. I have had very little in the form of validation that I can be a top player. Only mine and a select few’s belief.
I would say I have 7 months to show that I can do this. Or that’s it.”
Then, among the encouraging and sympathetic emails from members of Will’s Squash Club, Racquets, Thame, came one from a friend telling him about a poet, Samuel Beckett reference, that Wawrinka has tattooed on his left forearm – ‘Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.’
Four or five days later, Will wrote: “Thank you for all the messages I have received after my loss in Calgary. I went through a hard time questioning myself a lot as you could all see from my last post. But four or five days later and now I feel I have learned how to be a bit kinder to myself to support myself rather than leaving myself high and dry out there.
“A lot of people said they thought I was beating myself up and being too hard on myself. A huge part of the game and life comes from within so if you’re talking bad to yourself then that’s only gonna slow things down. So thank you for helping me to realise that.”
Today, as this article is being written, Will is playing against Michael Harris of England, ranked at 128. Everyone at Racquets and Will’s other friends in Thame, are hopeful of some good news from Calgary later today. But even if he doesn’t win, no doubt Will John will, like all top sports people, learn from his defeats and lose better next time.
THE Towersey Festival, which this year is celebrating is 50th anniversary in August, has released details of the line-up, which includes some of the most famous names in folk music.
Among those taking part in the festival’s half-century birthday celebrations are folk legends Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman, and Lau, as well as Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy and Martin Carthy. Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Georgia Ruth, Dick Gaughan, John Smith, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, The Urban Folk Quartet, and many more, including The Bootleg Beatles, who’ll be headlining the opening night spectacular, are also on this most glittering of bills for 2014.
It was way back in 1965 that the people of Towersey, looking for ways to fund urgent renovations to the village hall, decided to launch a festival. From a one-day event, it was soon expanded to three days and a major, arts festival was born.
Music has always been at the heart of the festivities, but the modern day Towersey Festival also embraces poetry, comedy, theatre, circus performers, visual arts, films, workshops, dances, storytelling and great food.
Towersey’s Children’s Festival is a major attraction, featuring everything from drop-in craft activities to baby reflexology, while other highlights include Shooting Roots, a programme of activities dedicated to, and run by, young people, and a Real Ale and Cider Festival, featuring a range of artisan beers and ciders, many from the surrounding area.
“We’re very proud indeed to be celebrating Towersey Festival’s Golden Jubilee,” said Festival Director Joe Heap, whose grandfather was one of the festival founders. “The annual event has grown considerably since those early days, but it remains one of the most welcoming and friendly festivals in the UK.
“We’re looking forward to marking 50 years with some very special guests and announcements, and also welcoming friends both old and new,” he added.
A cornerstone of British music since the 1960s, guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson found fame as co-founder of Fairport Convention. His songs have been recorded by such acts as The Corrs, REM and Elvis Costello, with The LA Times describing him as “the finest rock songwriter after [Bob] Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix.” He was made an OBE in 2011.
Over the last decade, Seth Lakeman has released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including the Mercury Prize nominated Kitty Jay. 2014 sees the violinist and multi-instrumentalist release his sixth studio album, Word Of Mouth (out Feb 3).
A stunning live act, three-piece, Lau, have won the Best Band title at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards four times (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013), their subtle blend of traditional instruments with loops and effects pushing the folk genre into new exciting directions.
Tickets for the full festival start from £55-£120, with under 5s free. Camping available. Day tickets (Fri-Mon) £10-£40.
For further information and to book tickets, call 023 8071 1818 or see: www.towerseyfestival.com
ELMS Park in Park Street, Thame, will soon be a more pleasant and safer place to walk after dark.
Thame Town Council has confirmed that new lighting for Elms Park has been ordered, and that installation is scheduled to being in the Spring this year. The project started three years ago following a suggestion by The Friends of Elms Park who have raised some of the money.
One of the highlights of Thame’s calendar of events, Music in the Park, has helped raise much of the money for the project. This year’s Music in the Park will be on May 4. More details HERE
The total cost of the project is expected to be £27,907, of which any shortfall will be underwritten by Thame Town Council.
THE NHS Trust responsible for medical provision and patient care at Thame’s Community hospital, wants to hear from local people about their experience of its services in the town, either as a patient or as a carer, and their ideas about how the service could be improved.
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust’s ‘Big Conversation’ event, will be taking place in Thame on Friday, January 31, at 9.30am – 12pm.
Tracey Underhill, Head of Membership, Engagement, Equality & Diversity said: “Patients and carers have been really receptive to sharing their experiences at recent meetings and have made some constructive and helpful suggestions. I would encourage local patients who live in or around Thame to come along and get involved so that together we can improve the patient experience for everyone.”
The Thame event is part of a series of conversations taking place across Buckinghamshire. There are other ways to get involved in BHNHS Trust’s Big Conversation including smaller focus groups. One of these will be held in Thame on February 6, between 1-2.30pm. Anyone who can not make the meetings can submit feedback via the Trust’s website: www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/abc
For more information about the Big Conversation and how to get involved, call 01494 734953 or email dee.irvin@buckshealthcare.nhs.uk