FOLLOWING the launch of this autumn’s Midsomer Tours of Thame (see previous report HERE), a planning application has been submitted for six commemorative plaques, on historic, Listed buildings in Thame, that have featured in various episodes of the TV drama, Midsomer Murders.
Artwork for the proposed Midsomer Plaques
The idea is to attract visitors’ attention to the buildings at other times of the year, when the tours are not operating, thereby contributing to the economy of the town. There is respected research which showed that in 2014, Screen Tourism contributed between £100 – £400 million to the UK economy!
The six locations proposed are the Spread Eagle Hotel, the Swan Hotel, Rumsey’s Chocolaterie, Thame Museum, Thame Town Hall and the Market House.
The planning application is currently out for consultation which will end on September 27, 2018. Anyone can view the plans online and comment: LINK HERE
AFTER a break following the hugely successful Thame Town Music Festival , The First Thursday Music Club (FTMC), returns on Thursday, September 6, with a double bill of fantastic talent.
Matt Edwards
Following a busy summer where they played Truck festival and Stivvy Fest, Alphabet Backwards, the Oxford based indie/electro pop band are appearing. Straight after them, the magnificent Matt Edwards, together with and his All Star band, will be raising the volume with some down and dirty blues and blues/rock. In addition, Alan Pettifer and Fergus Smith are already signed up to play.
The First Thursday Music Club still offers the opportunity for artists to play live in front of a warm and appreciative audience, the club maintains the ‘Open Mic’ section of the evening where slots will always be available in the first hour on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis with player sign-up by 7.30PM. The club has a full house PA system with keyboard, bass amp, guitar amp and jazz drum kit (bring breakables!) all set up on stage and ready to go.
Another eclectic evening is guaranteed and, don’t forget, it’s FREE entry!
AFTER a notable and controversial absence last year, Thame’s September street fair will be returning this year between Thursday, September 20, and Saturday, September 22, 2018.
Thame Fair setting up – Image copyright Sonja Francis
A road closure will be in force from 7am on Wednesday, September 19, until 12 noon on Sunday, September 23, in North Street, Wellington Street and Southern Road. A further closure will commence at 4pm in Cornmarket, Upper High Street and High Street, Thame, to include the car parks.
Residents and businesses located within this area with off-street parking are reminded to obtain access permits from the Information Centre at Thame Town Hall.
THAME Lions Club together with Thame Bowls Club are once again holding a Visually Impaired Bowls competition on September 2, at Thame Bowls Club, Chiltern Grove, Thame, starting at 10am and finishing around 5pm.
Visually impaired bowling – Image courtesey of www.israel21c.org
Twenty four visually impaired bowlers will play against each other with the help of markers. It is remarkable how people with very limited or zero sight can play a game which relies on a visual ability. Marvel at the closeness of the ball to the jack with nothing other than instructions from markers using a clock-based system of instruction.
The two clubs worked together in 2016, with the first competition in Oxfordshire as far back as memory will allow. This was very successful, and the organisers are hoping to repeat the success this year. All the funds raised will be donated to Blind Veterans UK (St Dunstan’s) and Calibre Audio Library (Audio Books for sight impaired people).
Raffle tickets are being sold with prizes kindly donated by local businesses with a top prize of an ATG Theatre Voucher (£100) plus a meal voucher for £50.
As well as being very grateful to those who have donated prizes, the organisers would welcome sponsorship of the event to enable as much money as possible to be given to these worthwhile causes.
There will be a bar and light refreshments available all day, and anyone is welcome to attend the event, so go along and appreciate the abilities on show.
TO quote Fisherman’s Friends, who headlined Towersey Festival on Bank Holiday Sunday night: “Towersey Festival, you have excelled yourself. What a crowd, what an atmosphere, what a place … a night that we will never forget.” And who, among any of us that were there, could sum up better what happened that night.
The Shires singer, Crissie Rhodes
And so it was for gig after gig, whether it was in one the main venues or the First Thursday Music Club Bar Stage, packed out for every performance.
The 54th Towersey Festival, one of the oldest independent music festival’s in the country, which ran from Friday, August 24 to Monday 27, saw a sell-out weekend of great performances, standing ovations and an estimated 9,000 revellers.
Highlights over the August Bank Holiday included appearances from Scottish brothers, The Proclaimers on the Saturday, August 25, who had the packed venue singing along, and UK country stars, The Shires, on Monday, August 27, while guitarist/ songwriter Richard Thompson opened the event on the Friday, with his Electric Trio – expanded to a quartet with the surprise addition of Christine Collister.
One of the ‘Proclaimers’, headliners at Towersey Festival 2018
Crowds were also wowed by five-piece Daphne’s Flight, who earned a standing ovation (one of many over the weekend), and Cornish shanty singers Fisherman’s Friends, whose Jon Cleave also made an appearance for the Sunday morning newspaper review. The Festival Dance House also kept dancers energised – especially during Saturday’s mammoth marathon ceilidh!
More than just the music!
Dozens of people took part in an early morning Ukulele workshop
While away from the music, a switch to re-usable pint mugs at bars was warmly welcomed by all, and was one of several changes introduced this year as part of a longstanding, and ongoing, commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the event.
The festival concluded with the now traditional Lantern Parade, featuring incredible constructions designed and created by visitors, and a sing-a-long of The Beatles’ Hey Jude, led by folk rock band, Blackbeard’s Tea Party.
Part of the Lantern Parade at Towersey Festival 2018
“We’ve seen such an eclectic mix of artists this year, from the country pop of The Shires, to the UK’s number one brass band, Brighouse and Rastrick, to an acclaimed teaming of Peter Knight and John Spiers,” said Towersey Director, Joe Heap.
“We’ve also welcomed appearances by such established folk artists as Roy Bailey, our Festival Patron who appeared at the very first Towersey back in 1965, to rising stars of the genre such as harpist Mera Royale, who won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award this year, and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne.”
Moody skies over Towersey before the sun came out again!
As well as welcoming Folk, Country and Roots music fans from all over the country – and beyond – Towersey Festival is always one of the big, social events for music-loving locals who go to Towersey to meet friends both old and new, and share the special atmosphere of music and merriment. Very often its the first experience of camping away from home, in a safe, local environment – a right of passage for many young teens from the town and local villages.
Dancing to Pon Aelius in the Bar stage tent, Towersey Festival 2018
Local talent showcased too
Local bands that made a real splash among new appreciators of their music included Prog Floyd, 2AMBlue, The Boodlum Band and Celtic Heartbeat. Also, a big mention must go to The Festival Choir who, after just four morning workshops, produced the most amazing wall of harmony acapella, under the stewardship of Roger Jackson.
Editor’s pick: Among my personal favourites were Pon Aelius (saw them twice!), The Boutones, The Shires (of course), Fisherman’s Friends (most EVER fun at a gig!), Blair Dunlop (who else could write songs with themes as various as the housing crisis, Determinism, Feng Shui and an ex-girl friend’s mum?), Faustus (a little bit in love with Saul Rose, accordian), Jig Doll Ensemble (Accordian playing, solo clog dancing AND headstands!), Cohen Braithwaite Kilcoyne (phenominal young talent who can hold the big stage as well an the intimacy of the Bar stage) and not forgetting the incredibly adept and entertaining Bella Gaffeny & Polly Bolton.
We’d love to hear your faves !! Add your comments below.
The dates for your diary for Towersey festival 2019, are Friday, August 23 to Monday, August 26.
BACK in 1979 at the age of 38, Alan Cornish was interviewed for a sports magazine to discuss his love for racket sports and his success in each individual field. The author of the article presented Alan with the question: “Do you think at 38, you are nearly over the top?” Almost 40 years later, Alan has just returned from Zurich where he won the silver and bronze for Great Britain in the Racketlon World Championships. I think it’s safe to say the answer back in 1979 was quite clearly, NO!
Introduced to Racketlon in 2004, Alan has made a name for himself in the rackets based competition, not only for his success, but for being one of the oldest (possibly in fact the oldest!) participant to date. His initial introduction to the combination sport saw him competing at the age of 63 against other players almost 20 years his junior, and now almost 15 years later Alan is still holding his own.
Racketlon is a competition made up of four racket based sports, where you play your opponent to 21 at each of the four disciplines. Order of play begins with table tennis, followed by badminton, squash and then ending with tennis. It is always played in this order, with the size of the racket increasing with each match. The best racketlon players show good strength and balance throughout each of the sports, which Alan accentuated through his thorough training regime.
Table tennis is his main passion and what he would describe as his strongest sport, but Alan has shown immense dedication to each game in the lead up to the World Championships. An average week for the vintage player included three training sessions a day, seven days a week, varying between match play, coaching sessions and solo practice. Chloe Marshall, who is the head squash coach of Oxfordshire and Alan’s personal squash tutor, commented: “Alan’s passion and commitment has been truly inspiring! He has put endless hours into his training and has been really dedicated to giving his best performance at the Championships. I hope to see our young juniors taking a leaf out of his book.”
With months of practice under his belt, Alan reaped his rewards out in Zurich, placing second in the Over 70’s singles event and third in the Over 65’s team competition, returning back to Britain with a silver and bronze medal with his name on it.
Winning his group in the initial stages, followed by a convincing defeat over an Austrian player in the semi’s, Alan made it to the final where he narrowly lost out to Swede Lennart Eklandh. Interestingly, Alan beat Lennart in the group stages so the gold trophy most definitely wasn’t out of reach!
Not expecting to reach the final, Alan was thrilled with his performance throughout the event and achieved his main goal of enjoying himself and playing well, guided by the philosophy of Billie Jean King ‘The joy of winning is lovely but very fleeting; I always wanted just to play better’.
Alan has shown huge gratitude towards all the people who have been involved in his training this year commenting: “I could never have done it without the help and patience of all people involved.”
It’s difficult to read a story like Alan’s and not feel inspired and compelled to challenge oneself. So whatever you choose to do, do it with passion and give it your all.
“The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing” – Billie Jean King
OH, What a Lovely War! is the latest show to be staged by the Thame Players, running from September 11 to 15, starting at 7.45pm at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame.
Oh What a Lovely War looks like a Pierrot show – one of those seaside concert parties in front of which generations of British holidaymakers licked ice cream and ignored the wind.
Every early 20th-century resort had one, staffed by a gang of all-round entertainers in the pom-poms and pantaloons of the sad-faced clown. Oh What a Lovely War borrowed the clothes and the organizing principle: its actors play many parts – soldiers, generals, suffragettes, politicians, profiteers and spies, parading before you, the audience, in a series of quick-fire scenes.
A barrage of sketches and musical numbers, conducted by a Master of Ceremonies who starts proceedings with a chilling promise: “We’ve got songs for you, a few battles and some jokes. I’ve got the whip to crack in case you don’t laugh.”
Watch our commemoration of 100 years since the Great War, join in the songs, and watch the pictures, share in the experience.
Tickets £9 and £8 concessions available from Spear Travels on 01844 217228 or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk
RACQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame is now taking entries for a one-day squash doubles tournament on September 1, 2018, at the centre.
The tournament will be graded, and so different standards will play in different draws. But, there are always some top players around too so it’s always well worth going along to watch!
DESPITE harder exams this year, the Headteacher of Thame’s Lord Williams’s School was full of praise for this year’s cohort.
Announcing the school’s results, David Wybron said: “The challenges which faced our GCSE students this year were considerable with harder examinations and more of them! They have responded to those challenges and secured very pleasing results. 73% of students achieved five or more higher grades (9-4/A*-C) including English and Mathematics.
“Students have had a nervous wait for their results. There is relief and cause for much celebration for students, parents/carers and staff following the release of results today. Following outstanding results last year, our students have again reached those heights and they deserve to feel really pleased with their achievements.
“I would also like to thank staff who have worked so hard to steer them through to these results and for all the support at home, which is so important.”
The following students gained at least seven passes at grades 9, 8 and 7 (old A* and A):
Ross Albany-Ward, Sam Allen, Millie Argent, Holly Benham, Alex Buchanan, Amelia Burdett, Alfie Carberry, Zachary Chan, Corin Charman, Maddie Coles, Alice Craig, Laura Creswell, Theo Cross, James Evans, Callum Farrell, George Garner, Charlotte George, Jessica Gomes, Hannah Hodson, Elizabeth Humphreys, Harry James, Anna Kandiah, Anna Lockwood, Cliona Macdonald, Ben Penrose, Kizzy Porter, Benjamin Rose, Josie Sampson, Eleanor Schofield, Emily Seed, Martha Taylor, Abigail Tully and Rhodri Walsh.
HOPEFULLY there’ll be no murders in Chinnor to trouble Inspector Barnaby next month, as a new Midsomer Tour package begins.
Neil Didgeon a.k.a. Inspector Barnaby
A guided walking tour of the internationally loved, TV series, Midsomer Murders locations in Thame will be followed by a steam trip on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR). The rail journey will include cream tea in the afternoon tea car. The new combined Midsomer tour starts on Sunday, September 17, with further tours on Sunday, October 7 and the following Sunday, October 14.
Thame is one of the most frequently used filming locations in the popular ITV series, Midsomer Murders, in which it either as ‘Causton’ or as one of the fictional villages in Midsomer County. The Midsomer guided walking tours of Thame have grown in popularity, following their highly successful début last year. For the new Sunday afternoon tour, those taking the tour will be led by trained tour guides around many of the 20-plus filming locations in Thame town centre, including the Town Hall, Thame Museum, The Swan and the Spread Eagle Hotel.
After the walking tour, the murderous adventure continues from Chinnor Railway Station – the station that became ‘Holm Lane Junction’ in the Death in a Chocolate Box episode, when the station signs were changed, buffers were installed, and the station platform and train were drenched, to create the Midsomer illusion.
Taking a reserved seat in the afternoon tea car, Midsomer Murders fans will pass over the level crossing at Wainhill, featured in the episode, The Made to Measure Murders and during the journey will be served cream tea with locally baked scones, cream, butter and jam. The round trip lasts about 55 minutes.
Ray Gomm, special events manager at C&PRR, said: “‘We are absolutely delighted to be joining forces with Thame Midsomer Tours to provide a new Midsomer adventure, enhancing the experience that people have when they visit Midsomer County, and highlighting C&PRR as a unique Midsomer filming location.”
Tony Long, coordinator for Thame Midsomer Tours said: “Just like C&PRR, the Midsomer Tours are conducted by volunteers. The more people coming on these new tours, the more funds can be generated, both to help maintain the railway and help Midsomer Tours donate to charitable causes locally. Last year we donated over £700 to the Mayor of Thame’s Charities and Thame Museum. The guides themselves don’t take any income from the tours.”
Rumsey’s Barnaby Buns
Becky Reid is Market Town Coordinator at Thame Town Council. She commented: “Midsomer Murders is watched by 6.5 million people in the UK and millions more worldwide. It’s one of the UK’s biggest TV exports, and when people see it on TV, they want to come and visit the beautiful towns and villages of Midsomer. While here, they spend money in our restaurants, pubs, hotels, shops – and now railways! – which is good for our local economy.” She continued: “In Thame, it has also inspired specially created Midsomer products such as the popular Barnaby Buns and the newly launched Midsomer chocolate lollipops, both available from Rumsey’s Chocolaterie in Thame, itself a Midsomer filming location.”
THE Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR), which is 100% operated by volunteers, has been in the news recently. On Wednesday, August 15, a newly created platform, Platform 4, was opened at Chiltern Railways’Princes Risborough station, and C&PRR became the nearest main-line connected heritage railway to London, boasting a cross-platform interchange facility. The steam railway is now less than 25 miles and 40 minutes from London’s Marylebone station.
