JIMI HENDRIX, ERIC CLAPTON & CREAM – Paying tribute to these legends of rock are VOODOO ROOM. A stunning power trio featuring some of the UK’s finest musicians who perform an incredible show in the true spirit of these legendary superstars.
No wigs, no gimmicks – simply great music played by great musicians! Featuring classics such as: Hey Joe, Sunshine Of Your Love, Purple Haze, Layla etc. Members of Voodoo Room have recorded and toured with Stevie Winwood, Massive Attack, Arthur Brown, Fish, Thunder and many other high-profile artists.
With standing ovations the norm, the word on the street is Voodoo Room are – NOT TO BE MISSED! Saturday, March 30, at 7.45pm
Tickets £15 available online from www.thameplayers.co.uk orfrom Spear Travels on 01844 217228
MEMBERS of the steering group of the Thame Remembers Project, a community commemorating the centenary of the First World War, has made a generous donation of £750 to Thame Players Theatre Company.
L to R – David Bretherton, Pat Shepherd and Mike Dyer
The donation, made on Wednesday, March 13, at the theatre, was made in recognition of the enthusiastic support and assistance given by Thame Players to the Thame Remembers project during its four-year campaign. The objective of the campaign was to commemorate the centenary of the First World War by researching all the names on Thame war memorials, identifying the location of their grave or memorial and placing a Thame Remembers cross on each resting place wherever in the world that may be. The people of Thame rose magnificently to this challenge and the lives of 212 men lost in warfare from the Boer War to the present were commemorated during the four years 2014-18, leading up to the centenary of the Armistice in November 2018.
The Players Theatre was involved in this campaign during two of those years, by working with Thame Remembers to stage two innovative theatre productions commemorating aspects of the First World War. The first production was performed on 1st July 2016, commemorating the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The second, entitled Ten Tommies from Thame, was performed on 9th and 10th November 2018 to sell-out audiences on both evenings. Ten Tommies from Thame was written by Thame Remembers steering group members Mike Dyer and Catherine Jones and performed partly by seasoned actors from Thame Players Theatre Company and partly by amateurs who had never been on stage before. The production was made possible by Thame Players letting out the theatre without a hire fee and by providing stage management, lighting, back projection, sound, and front of house functions, all on an entirely voluntary basis.
On presenting a cheque donation of £750 to Pat Shepherd, chairman of Thame Players, Thame Remembers steering group leader David Bretherton said, ‘Thame Players have been extremely generous with their time and their resources, both for the Somme production in 2016 and for Ten Tommies from Thame in November last year. We could not have achieved what we did without their invaluable help and support. Both shows were a fantastic success and will linger on in people’s minds for many years to come. They enabled us to put across a powerful visual representation of the horrors of this conflict and the part that people from Thame played in it’.
Thame Remembers has just been presented with the Mayor of Thame’s Special Award at the eleventh Thame Town Awards, held on March 14. The award was in recognition of its members’ extensive efforts to mark the centenary of the First World War in Thame. Although the key objectives of the Thame Remembers campaign have been achieved, their educational talks continue to be in demand and research – into those who went to war and returned – continues, involving future generations who can continue their pioneering work.
NOTES:
Thame Remembers is a partnership project with Thame Museum also supported by Thame Town Council. The project has been unique in its global scope and scale, with volunteers travelling 150,000 miles to place crosses, covering four continents, 23 countries, 102 cemeteries and 31 battlefield memorials. Around 1000 people were involved in these missions, including expeditions to locations as far apart as Portsmouth and New Zealand.
Thirty new names identified through Thame Remembers’ research will be added to Thame’s War Memorial at a future date, hopefully in July 2021, the centenary of its unveiling by the then Prime Minister David Lloyd George. For more information about the project’s continuing work, visit https://www.thameremembers.org/
Thame Players Theatre Company is a registered charity, run entirely by volunteers, offering a varied range of entertainment all year round, from serious theatre to comedy and pantomime, including their own productions, visiting shows, and film screenings by Thame Cinema For All.
In July Thame Players celebrate their 75th anniversary with a revue entitled Landmarks, produced by Tony Long and Bernadette Tildesley. Thame Players started with a performance in July 1944 in the Town Hall to help the war effort to become the vibrant, busy theatre we know today. Landmarks is filled with sketches, songs, and fascinating facts from those 75 years and will be performed at 7.45 pm on Friday 26th and Sunday 28th July.
For more information about Thame Players, upcoming shows, and how to join as a member or a friend, call 07881 688895 or visit www.thameplayers.co.uk
A World Village Market is returning to Thame on Friday, April 5 to 7, 2019, for the third year, showcasing products from around the world including pottery from Portugal, baskets and tableware from Madagascar, wool products from Ecuador and Peru, jewellery from Rajasthan and much more!
There’ll also be plenty of international hot food and beverages stalls to tantalise your taste buds. For the children, there’ll be face painting and an ice-cream van!
The World Village Market is hosted by the Market Square Group – LINK HERE . The market is open 11am-5pm on Friday, April 5, 9am-6pm on Saturday, April 6, and 10am-5pm on Sunday, April 7, and will take place around the Town Hall (the same location as the French Market in October).
THAME Town Council’s Grants Scheme is now open to local organisations in the Thame area. The scheme aims to ‘fund projects that address the needs, aspirations and issues of the people in our community’.
The Town Council is inviting local charitable organisations who are working for the benefit of Thame to apply for funding to support projects that aim to develop skills, improve health, revitalise the local environment and enable people to become more active citizens.
Who can apply?
Any group can apply for a Town Council grant as long as it is a community or not-for-profit group working for the benefit of the people of Thame. Other terms and conditions apply; visit www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/grant-aid for further details.
How to apply
Application packs are available from the Town Hall or you can download a pack from the Town Council’s website using the above link (scroll down for PDF Download)
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Tuesday, April 20, 2019. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their grant application by the end of June 2019. For further information or for assistance in completing your form please contact the Town Council on 01844 212833 or email info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk.
AS well as supporting artisan producers and promoting British food, as a not-for-profit organisation, Thame Food Festival supports locals charities. This year the festival will be supporting the Thame Foodbank which was set up by Sharing Life Trust.
Lotte Duncan, Patron and Organiser of Thame Food Festival explained: “Although in many ways, Thame and its surrounding villages are seen as an affluent community, many individuals, couples and families are in financial difficulties or really struggle. This is why the foodbank was originally established and run by a small team of volunteers.
“Sadly demand for their services is increasing and therefore the organisers of the Thame Food Festival is keen to use the event to promote and support this good cause. This will involve a drop off and display area, plus the opportunity for stallholders at the end of the second day to donate any produce they don’t want to take away with them.”
This year’s Thame Food Festival will once again be on Thame Show Ground over the two days of September 28, and 29. For full details of this year’s events, including live music, canine frolics from the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People demonstrations, the ever popular Dog Show, Thomley in Worminghall with an even bigger dedicated Children’s Activity Area and Aylesbury Vale Diabetes, who provide practical, life-enhancing education and information and support. For more information and to sign up for a regular newsletter, visit the Thame Food Festival website http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk/
HIROKAZU Kore-eda’s Oscar nominated, Palme d’Or winning drama, SHOPLIFTERS will be shown by Thame Cinima 4 All, this Friday, March 29, in Thame.
Shoplifters is a mesmerising portrait of marginal lives in contemporary urban Japan and a heartbreakingly moving story about the nuances and complexity of family life.
Osamu is a drifter and shoplifter, combing the streets and the supermarkets of the outskirts of Tokyo, stealing food for his family. He is teaching his boy, Shota, the tricks of the trade. Noboyu steals from the laundry where she works, and Aki contributes to the household through her work in a very dodgy soft porn peep-show catering to those with a penchant for teen girls.
They all live in a couple of impossibly crowded rooms shared with Hatsue, the grandmother of the family, rooms so stuffed with packaging and detritus, random items and accumulated pilfered goods, yet with a kind of ramshackle order and a regular daily routine. It is a life lived in fear of the authorities, an existence scratched out on the margins, the constant theft a kind of ironic mirror image of the materialist consumerism of the Japanese mainstream.
One evening, Osamu sees a small child apparently neglected and abused by her mother; he and Noboyu take her in, name her Juri, and make a home for her. She too happily blends into the small band of thieves – so close to her family yet rendered invisible, in spite of news coverage of her disappearance. As we follow the lives of the family over a couple of seasons, their stories unfold, and the past reveals itself. This is a wise and melancholy but uplifting drama: it questions what a family is, what constitutes ‘dysfunctional’, and what makes for a good enough parent. Ultimately, it examines how a flawed and troubled group of people – grappling with the shadows of the past – break the law, make questionable moral choices but still rub along together, look out for each other, and cultivate healing and compassionate familial love. One of the films of 2018 this will stay with you – don’t miss it.
Japan 2018, 120 minutes, 15 certificate – Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, starring Kriin Kiki, Lily Franky, Sosuke Ikematsu, Sakura Ando, Moemi Katayama, Mayu Matsuoka
View the trailer HERE. Shoplifters -Friday, March 29 – 8pm – Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame
Film tickets are available on the door or online- Click here
THE Players Theatre in Thame welcomed the town’s Mayor and local councillors to a reception on Wednesday, March 13, to celebrate the completion of two grant-funded projects at the theatre.
L to R – Cllr David Dodds (SODC), Pat Shepherd, Chairman of Thame Players, Mayor of Thame, Cllr Ann Midwinter
Thame Town Council awarded £1400 towards an upgrade of WiFi equipment at the theatre, including network switches and professional wiring for 11 ports with interconnects. As a popular community venue, improved technology is essential to the running of the theatre and its efficient and effective operation. The significant WiFi upgrade means that internet access is available throughout the building, enhancing in-house and visiting performances and support functions such as sound and lighting.
The Mayor of Thame, Cllr Ann Midwinter, said: “We are delighted to be helping the Players Theatre to maintain and improve its facilities so that audiences can continue to enjoy performances delivered with the best technical support. This WiFi upgrade resonates with the Council’s desire to improve WiFi availability in Thame and we wish the theatre continuing success now that it has greater access to WiFi.”
Thame Town Council’s grants scheme aims to fund projects addressing the needs of people in the community, supporting initiatives that develop skills, improve health, and revitalise the local environment, enabling people to become more active.
South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) awarded £4000 from its Councillor Grant Scheme towards the installation of a specialist acoustic door at the theatre. The new acoustic door greatly improves access to the stage and backstage areas for two groups. Disabled performers, such as wheelchair users can become fully involved in productions at the theatre, whether as performers or as stage hands. The door also enables the movement of large stage equipment on to the stage which means that the theatre is better equipped to put on more ambitious productions, including those from visiting companies and musicians, increasing the variety of entertainment available in Thame.
The Councillor Grants Scheme enables each South Oxfordshire district councillor to award up to £5,000 to projects or services offering community benefits in their ward area.
Players Theatre award was made within Cllr David Dodds’ grant allowance. Speaking at the celebration, Cllr Dodds said: “SODC’s grants scheme seeks to fund projects which benefit the community and enhance the facilities available. The acoustic door project was technically challenging, involving complex electrical adjustments, but now it has been completed, the benefits, enabling access for disabled performers and improving access for equipment, will enhance the theatre as a valuable entertainment resource in the town.”
SATURDAY saw a return to the starting line up for Thame’s Dan West, and due to injury, Peake-Pijnen was handed a starting position at right back showing his versatility within the side.
Both sides were surprised by the strong winds at Sharpenhoe Road and knew they would face a difficult day ahead. In the first six minutes of the game, both sides had equal amounts of possession. Ten minutes into the match, West held the ball up before passing wide to Fasanmade who was able to put in a left footed cross with venom which was neither attacked nor defended, and so went out of play. Barton appeared nervous at the back and unsure how to cope with the runs and pace of Fasanmade.
It took a while but Barton did create a move when a long ball towards Osobu on the left allowed him to run at the defence before squaring a pass towards Clayton which deflected up into the air. Thame’s Hill was grounded resulting in an easy tap in for Barton’s number nine, Clayton. Barton then had a goal disallowed for offside in a period of play when Thame were dropping deeper – even with Goss having to support defensively in midfield.
Thame continued to search for a way back into the game, and Peake-Pijnen nearly brought the away side back level when a left footed strike from distance went over the bar.
Thame appealed for a penalty but the appeal was rejected when it appeared Andrews had hand-balled inside his own penalty box. Despite no penalty, Thame gained possession from a clearance and passed towards Goss inside the box, who turned with the ball and fired a shot quickly away underneath Malone to make it 1-1.
Barton followed this with Clayton going one-on-one with Essex and managing to go past him before Hill forced Clayton to dribble the ball wide of him before getting a shot away – the shot hitting the outside of the post and wide. Barton tried to play on the counter and break forward in numbers, possibly to put pressure on the Thame defence. Towards the end of the half, Tack put in a dangerous corner which was not dealt with resulting in the ball bouncing up into the air. A firm header by Gledhill hit a defender but crossed the line to give Thame the lead for the first time in the game.
It should be noted that Thame’s Peake-Pijnen had a great first half at right back, with his positional play and good decision-taking. Barton ended the half playing at a higher tempo and finding space off the ball. West nearly extended the lead when his run off the ball meant he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and attempted to lift the ball over Malone but failed to do so. The first half was a story of equal chances but Thame being more efficient with their end product inside the box.
HT Score – Barton Rovers 1 – 2 Thame United
IT was a slow start for the first five minutes of the second half, before West had another opportunity to loft the ball over Malone but was unable to score. Although West missed chances with his feet, he was able to head the ball into the bar and in, by leaping above the defender from Tack’s corner from the right to make it 1-3. It took a decision from the linesman to award the goal. The Thame side were jubilant. Thame nearly extended their lead when a superbly weighted long ball by Lynn up the left flank reached West who dribbled infield before passing square to a running Tutton who hit the ball wide before it was eventually cleared.
Barton then had a period of putting in multiple crosses but time and time again no one could get on the end of them much to the Dugouts frustration. An excellent run on the right by Williams led to him switching play left to Osobu who hit the ball firmly past Hill to give Barton hope in the game. Thame’s captain Sturgess could be heard passing on words to his players to ‘concentrate and relax’. Barton’s Clayton found space on the right and a diagonal ball to him was hit wide of the post with Thame’s Hill watching the ball go wide.
The match was sealed for Thame when Tack’s sublime second half display led to his shot from 30 years being deflected and lobbing the goal keeper to make it 2-4 on the day to Thame. The goal gave the Thame side confidence and an increase in their work rate off the ball in order to see off Barton Rovers. There was a late scare for Thame when West went into a 50/50 challenge and came off worse. This led to a lengthy stoppage in play. But West appeared to run it off and continue. In the last 15 minutes Barton were attempting to play the ball behind the defenders but with out much joy following Clayton’s substitution. Thame were able to slow play down in the final few minutes and managed the game until the final whistle.
The result ended a brilliant week for Thame United as three points proved invaluable in the playoff picture. Thame moved up to fifth in the table due to results elsewhere in the division going in their favour. It has to be said that Thame showed great determination and team work for this away win. Barton will be disappointed to not have taken early chances in the first half which made the defeat a tough one to take.
FULL Time Score – Barton Rovers 2 – 4 Thame United
*** NEXT GAME ***
Thame United v Coleshill Town
Saturday 23/3/19
15:00
ASM Stadium, Thame
THE programme for May’s Chilterns Walking Festival spring event has been announced by the Chilterns Conservation Board, organiser of the popular festival.
Running from Saturday, May 18, to Sunday, June 2, 2019, the programme includes over 70 guided walks, events and activities covering the whole of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which stretches from Oxfordshire through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire into Hertfordshire.
The new programme includes specialist themed walks, and opportunities to discover lively stories and scenic landscapes associated with the Chilterns. Some walks include the prospect of sampling local food and drink, others provide ‘have-a-go’ sessions or chances to learn about the area’s wildlife, history and colourful characters.
The Spring programme opening week – highlights include:
Classic Chilterns Views – join our knowledgeable guide and follow the ancient Ridgeway, taking in the views from Coombe Hill Monument before lunching in Buckmoorend at the Farm Shop café; returning past Chequers, country home of Britain’s Prime Minister.
Midsomer Murders Revealed! – explore Henley’s historical past and visit Midsomer Murders locations; our guide will reveal filming locations, personal anecdotes & facts you won’t find in the guide book.
Mindful Wellbeing Nordic Walk – improve your health physically and mentally with a 2–3 mile Nordic trek through Chilterns Woodlands using walking poles; a feast for the senses discovering woodland plants and trees.
Bluebells and Blacksmiths – this ‘Meet the Maker’ craft walk will introduce you to two workshops: Cobalt Blacksmiths and Gordon Kent Furniture Maker. The walk takes in beautiful scenery including beechwoods carpeted in bluebells (nature permitting).
Living History: Jordan’s Village – discover the history of this Quaker-founded village, including a tour of Jordan’s Meeting House and optional tea & cakes at Spindrift B@B
Each walk is guided by an experienced leader who knows the area well and is keen to share stories of the people and places that have shaped the countryside.
Chilterns Conservation Board People and Society Officer Annette Venters said: “The Chilterns Walking Festival is now a firm favourite with both tourists and residents: each year we see more walks, more guides, more local business involvement, and above all growing numbers of participants. This year the programme includes a huge variety of walks to enable everyone to explore The Chilterns and discover remarkable people and places within a beautiful natural environment. There’s already been lots of interest, so please do book early to avoid disappointment.”
Details of all guided walks, events and activities available in the spring programme can be found on the website www.visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest. Most are free of charge though some require a small fee which is clearly shown. To assist walk leaders with expected numbers, most events must be pre-booked.
More information:
The Chilterns Walking Festival involves spring and autumn events (2017-2019), funded by a successful LEADER grant application secured by Chilterns Conservation Board.
May’s 16 day programme in 2019 features over 50 guided walks, activities and events, designed to appeal to different age groups, interests and levels of fitness. There will be walks for young families, for people with limited mobility or with canine companions.
The Chilterns AONB is a rural area, surrounded by major urban centres including Luton, Aylesbury, Hemel Hempstead, Reading and High Wycombe. London is 20 miles to the south east and there are excellent road, rail and bus transport links. In total, 10 million people live within an hour’s driver time of the Chilterns.
Chilterns AONB
The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was designated in 1965 and covers 833 sq kms (326 sq miles) stretching from Goring, in Oxfordshire, to near Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. It is one of 38 AONBs in England and Wales and has a resident population of 80,000.
Chilterns Conservation Board
The Chilterns Conservation Board was set up following the passing of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000, to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and increase awareness and understanding of the Chilterns AONB. The Board, which also aims to foster the social and economic wellbeing of local communities, is supported by Defra and all local authorities in the area.
LEADER Programme
The Chilterns Walking Festival is part funded by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development through the Chilterns LEADER programme. The grant received through this programme has helped make these festivals happen. The LEADER programme assists rural businesses to create jobs and support the rural economy. It has been running across England for more than 10 years.
Event Main Sponsor: Complete Outdoors
The Complete Outdoors camping shop was established 35 years ago to supply outdoor gear suitable for local walks in the park to mountain expeditions, and everything in between. The store is based in Bourne End, between Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. Open seven days a week, there is also an online store.www.completeoutdoors.co.uk
Event Sponsor: Brakspear
Brakspear is a family owned and run Henley brewer and award-winning pub company which has been at the heart of British life for over 200 years. Many of the company’s 132 pubs are located in picturesque rural and town centre settings across The Chilterns. www.brakspear.co.uk
Event Sponsor: The Chiltern Society
The Chiltern Society is a registered charity with over 7,000 members and 500 active volunteers dedicated to conserving, celebrating and caring for the Chilterns. It manages 12 important nature reserves and heritage sites, in addition to carrying out conservation work across the Chilterns landscape. www.chilternsociety.org.uk
For further information, details of local walks and high resolution images, please contact Annette aweiss@chilternsaonb.org tel 01844 355500
POPULAR BBC Radio 2 presenter, Ken Bruce, who lives locally, has made a date with Lord Williams’s School (LWS) on Saturday, April 27, to open the school’s annual 5k Fun Run.
Ken Bruce
The event, now in its third year, saw over 250 fun runners taking on the challenge last year, and organisers are aiming to make it even bigger this time around!
Setting off from the Upper School, Oxford Road, at 1pm, after a fun warm-up (courtesy of Thame Leisure Centre), the event will see entrants taking on a 5k challenge and obstacle course, including tyres, a cargo net and hay bales, with additional colour stations dotted around the course so fun runners get pelted with powder as they go!
The 5K route offers a mixed terrain – perfect for runners and joggers looking for a warm-up to a bigger event like the Thame 10k – as well as families looking to soak up some springtime ‘fun in the sun’. With music and entertainment on the day as well as a raffle and refreshments, it promises to be a fun-packed afternoon for all.
Commenting on the event, Ken said: “I’m delighted to open this year’s Lord Williams’s School Fun Run and am looking forward to seeing all the fun runners in action on the day. So, whether you’re a pupil at the school, a parent, a local business, or even a hardy walker or runner, get yourselves signed up, as it promises to be a fantastic event for all ages and abilities. Let’s aim for an even bigger turnout than last year!”
Lord Williams’s PTA Chair, Karen Shardlow, explained why it’s important for people to get involved: “We’re really excited to be bringing this event back to Thame in support of LWS and are encouraging everyone in the community to get involved; whether you have a child at the school, have been a pupil of the school, are a business or running club, or simply just want to support something local, our fun run is a fantastic event for all – no matter what your age or level of fitness.
“As part of the fundraising event, each participant who crosses the finish line will receive a souvenir medal and all fun runners are being encouraged to raise as much sponsorship as they can. All money raised from the event will go towards funding essential school equipment and resources which enhance children’s learning and education during their time at LWS. For example, last year we raised £4,000 from the event which has helped to fund items including, interactive whiteboards, picnic benches and new school football and cricket kits.”
It is hoped local businesses will once again join in the fun with last year’s event welcoming entrants from Stuart Barr Furniture, Thame Cricket Club and Thame Runners.
