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Category: Thame news

  • A hilarious spoof that’s guaranteed to delight!

    MURDERED to Death by Peter Gordon is a hilarious spoof in the best Agatha Christie tradition and Thame Players will be giving their special treatment at the Players Theatre, Thame, from May 8 to 12.

    Murdered to Death is a ludicrously funny ‘whodunnit’ story, featuring a cast of stereotypical characters doing stereotypical things. There’s a blustering English colonel with a suitably stiff upper lip, a well-meaning local sleuth who seems to attract murder wherever she goes, the village policeman – a bumbling and appropriately named Inspector Pratt, a shady French art dealer, and a femme fatale. Oh, yes, and of course what whodunnit would be complete without the faithful family butler in a country house setting in the 1930s?

    They’re all there, getting caught up in the side-splitting antics which follow the mysterious death of the owner of the house. It soon becomes clear that the murderer isn’t finished yet, but will the murderer be unmasked before anyone else has met their doom, or will audiences die laughing first?

    Murdered to Death was written by Peter Gordon, one of the UK’s most popular playwrights. To date, he has written thirteen comedies, a psychological thriller and a one-act comedy. It is part of the ‘Inspector Pratt’ trilogy, which also includes Secondary Cause of Death and Death by Fatal Murder, described variously as ‘deliciously wicked’, ‘hilarious’ and ‘very clever’. These plays have had over 1,000 professional and amateur tours and productions in the UK and overseas, including USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

    It has been said of Peter Gordon that his writing is ‘Sometimes bizarre and funny, sometimes sad, but is always entertaining’.

    Adam Hurst, director of this production for Thame Players, said: “Murdered to Death provides the perfect recipe for a great comedy. If you enjoy watching the play half as much as the cast enjoy performing it, then you are in for a wonderful evening’s entertainment.”

    Murdered to Death is being performed at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame OX9 2DP from Tuesday, May 8, until Saturday, May 12, inclusive at 7.45pm. Tickets: £9, concessions £8, are available from Spear Travels, Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 01844 217228 or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk

  • Thame agricultural supply stores has new owner

    HAVING recently gone into Administration, the owners of H & C Pearce & Sons Ltd, in Aylesbury Road, Thame, one of the largest agricultural farm supply businesses in central and southern England. has been acquired by the agricultural supplies group, Wynnstay.

     

    H & C Pearce was a family run company which could trace its history back nearly two hundred years when it began as a wool grading business. Wool stapling (or trading) having been part of Thame’s heritage since medieval times.

     

    Powys-based Wynnstay has agreed with the administrators to pay £800,000 in cash for the Countrywide Farmers plc (“Countrywide”) stores, including Thame. At completion, the total number of Wynnstay Country Stores will increase from 52 to 60 outlets.

    Ken Greetham, Chief Executive Officer of Wynnstay, commented: “We are very pleased to have acquired eight country stores previously operated by Countrywide Famers. Their addition increases our footprint in both our existing trading heartland, and in the South West of England, in particular giving us an increased profile in Cornwall and Devon.

    “Farmers and the rural community are at the heart of Wynnstay’s offering and we look forward to welcoming new customers to the Group, as we introduce our products and services across these new stores.”

     

  • Five year housing land supply will deter speculative builders, says council

    SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL has published its latest figures showing that it can demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, which it claims should deter speculative planning applications from developers.

     

     

    If a local planning authority cannot show that it has a five-year housing land supply, its policies with regards to residential development will be regarded as out-of-date. Where this happens, the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) sets out a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’.

    Cllr Felix Bloomfield, South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “It is good news for South Oxfordshire that we can currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply. This will help us to fight speculative development on sites which are not the most suitable or preferred, whilst continuing to deliver on housing growth.”

    Under government planning rules set out in the (NPPF), all local planning authorities should have an up-to-date deliverable five-year housing land supply. The council’s Housing Land Supply Statement for 2017-18, published today, shows that it has a 5.4-year supply.

    To determine this figure, the council monitors planning permissions, carries out site surveys to check progress on house-building and works with housebuilders to understand how many houses have been built and how many are likely to be built in the next five years.

    Its latest housing completion survey shows that in South Oxfordshire 967 homes were built and finished in 2017/18, a third more than the previous year’s figure of 722, when the council was unable to demonstrate a five-year supply.

    Cllr Felix Bloomfield continued: “While this is not a significant over-supply and there are outside forces that can affect supply, we are working hard to ensure that this can be sustained moving forward. We are in the final stages of preparing our Local Plan for independent examination and this sets out how South Oxfordshire will grow over the coming decades in a planned, phased way.”

    The Housing Land Supply Statement can be viewed HERE

  • Thame Para-swimming event ‘a roaring success’

    THE first Thame Para-Swimming Event took place at Thame Leisure Centre recently, and, to say it was ‘a roaring success’ would be an understatement! (more…)

  • No change to ’10 balls’ cricket any time soon in Thame

    FOLLOWING the news of proposed changes by the ECB (English Cricket Board) to make cricket ‘more attractive’, members of Thame Town Cricket Club have been responding to the news, and generally, are not too happy!

    Cricket at Church Meadow, photo coutesy of Mark Lord

     

     

    The ECB has announced a new eight-team domestic competition for First Class Counties and MCC, based on the simple format of ‘100 balls’ for each team, starting in 2020.

    Spokesperson for TTCC, Andy Jinman, told ThameNews.Net: “I have taken soundings with a few players and supporters about the ‘100 ball” proposal – by no means a scientific study, but the general consensus seems to be that T20 is short enough; why try to shorten it even further? Is thisjust a marketing gimmick, trying to go even further (but probably too far) down the route of “shorter is better”?

    “Competitions like the IPL, the Big Bash etc are hugely successful in their respective countries, so the feeling is that the ECB should concentrate on making the new UK T20 competitions work well, rather than being distracted by ‘100 balls’.

    “As for the final over of 10 balls, I haven’t found a single bowler that fancies being hit to all parts of the ground for 10 balls, rather than just for 6!”

    Andy concluded: “Finally, TTCC hopes to have midweek T20 matches next season for adults, once the new clubhouse is ready, but no plans for this 100-ball format!”

    Announcing the changes on April 19, 2018, ECB’s Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison said: “This is a fresh and exciting idea which will appeal to a younger audience and attract new fans to the game. Throughout its development, we have shown leadership, provided challenge and followed a process. We will continue to do that as the concept evolves.

    “Our game has a history of innovation and we have a duty to look for future growth for the health and sustainability of the whole game. There are 18 First Class Counties, playing red and white ball cricket, at our core and these Counties and competitions will be supported, promoted and benefit from the game’s growth.”

    ECB Chief Commercial Officer, Sanjay Patel, MD for the new competition, said: “The development team has had strong support and encouragement in its conversations to date and it’s time to take the concept wider as we build the detail. This is 100-ball cricket, a simple approach to reach a new generation. Based on fifteen traditional 6-ball overs, the other ten balls will add a fresh tactical dimension. Crucially, this will also help differentiate this competition from Vitality Blast and other T20 competitions worldwide, maintaining our game’s history of successful innovation.

    “The players and our valuable broadcast partners under the new TV partnerships from 2020-24 are vital to the success of this competition and they will see the energy, excitement and simplicity of this approach.”

    Clare Connor CBE, Director of Women’s Cricket at ECB, said: “Our World Cup win at Lord’s last July showed what’s possible in terms of our sport reaching a new, younger and more diverse audience. Kia Super League has had a huge impact on participation, player development and the profile of our game. It was a big investment and a bold decision by the Board and paved the way for this next stage of growth.

    “To build the women’s and men’s competitions and identities together, side by side, is a prospect that few sports ever have and will give us greater reach, scale and prominence. It will attract more women and girls to the game, ensure that cricket reaches and entertains more families and give our players an exciting stage upon which to display their talent.”

  • Record numbers for school fun-run

    THE rain held off for runners of all ages and abilities, 250 in total, who took to Lord Williams’s Upper School, Oxford Road, on Saturday afternoon, for a 5k fun run, which saw participants clambering over hay bales, under cargo nets, then negotiating tyres and coloured paint – along with keeping an eye out for an ‘on the run’ panda, monkey and spotted deer!

     

    After a 10-minute warm-up to get runners ready to take on their 2.5k or 5k challenge led by Ali Galbraith of Peak Fitness Bootcamp, the event saw pupils from across all the year groups taking part, along with entrants from Thame Runners, Stuart Barr Furniture and Thame Cricket Club.

    The first runner to cross the line, Ed Hayes, did so in an impressive twenty-one minutes, thirty-five seconds, and competition was fierce as headteacher David Wybron took on his daughter, in a nail-biting finish!

    David Wybron ‘heading’ for the finish line !

    “We hoped last year we’d have a bigger and better fun run, and we’ve just had one,” commented David. “We’ve had a brilliant event, with colour and obstacles and more people than 2017 entering. Everyone’s had a great time. People have raised a lot of money for the school, so we’re all delighted.”

    He added: “Thank you to all those who have helped out today, our volunteers, marshals, local businesses including Lucy Electric who sponsored our runner numbers; to the Lord Williams’s School Parent Association (LWPA) and the school premises team. It’s just been a really fun day.”

    The fun run is predicted to raise over £4,000 for the school with sponsorship still to come in.

    For more information about Lord Williams’s School, visit http://www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk/

  • Chinnor RFC to play the biggest game in their history!

    IT has now been confirmed that Chinnor RFC will be playing at home in Thame, next Saturday, May 5, against Sedgley Park Tigers in the play off to decide which team will get promoted to National 1 next season. This is a one game winner takes all.

    Matt Williams The Director of Rugby of Chinnor commented “We came close last season but very narrowly lost out. This is a tremendous achievement to have only lost three games out of 30. Should we succeed in this final test we will be by far the youngest club to have reached level three and it is testament to the current squad and my team management.

    “We are also lucky to have tremendous sponsors, members and supporters who have supported us in our quest. I would urge all to come along on May 5, for what will be a thrilling encounter. We are aiming to give the Town’s people and surrounding area something to be proud of. “

    Kick Off 3pm Saturday, May 5, at  Kingsey Rd, Thame OX9 3JL

  • Golfers raise funds for Mayor’s charities

    THE Mayor, Cllr Tom Wyse’s charity Golf Day on Friday, April 20, raised over £4,500 for the his chosen charities – the Red Kite Family Centre and the Thame & District Day Centre, with team ‘The Shankers’ successfully defending their title from 2017.

    The Shankers team members L to R – Simon Martin, Gareth Davies, Gary Bunney and Simon Copley

    The event, hosted by Studley Wood Golf Club, was sponsored by many local companies with 68 players taking part.

    The Mayor commented: “The course was in great condition and everyone enjoyed the lovely weather. One comment summed up the day; ‘great golf, great food and a wonderful atmosphere’.”

    The event was supported by www.onlinegolf.co.uk.

    Pictured: Team members (l-r) Simon Martin, Gareth Davies, Gary Bunney and Simon Copley, aka “The Shankers” successfully defended their title!

  • Kind Thame resident raises funds for theft victim

    IN early April an elderly lady shopping in a store in Thame had £1000 in cash taken from her handbag which she had just withdrawn from the bank to buy new carpets for her home.

    Sympathetic to the elderly victim’s plight,  a Thame resident created a Just Giving page on Facebook to raise money for her. Through the generosity of  Thame residents and businesses, £1000 was very quickly raised.

    The kind man who created the page transferred the funds into the victims account last night, witnessed by neighbourhood PCSO’S at Thame police station.

    The victim has publicly thanked everybody who donated for their generosity.

    PCSO Graham Davey from the Thame neighbourhood team, looked after the victim after the incident to make certain that she was reassured and well looked after by friends and family.

    Thames Valley Police are still investigating the theft by following up all CCTV in the area.

  • ‘World class stuff’ for Thame Town Music Festival 2018

    THE founder of the Thame Town Music Festival, John Littler, has been talking to Thame Town Councillor about how a Simple Minds album he bought 35 years-ago, gave him the inspiration to organise his own music festival in Thame.

     

     

    John attended Thame Town Council’s meeting on Tuesday (24/04) to bring the council up-to-date with the arrangements so far, for a Thame Town Music Festival and Convention, in June, 2018. No report could do justice to John’s eloquent presentation, so here it is in full:

    “A town centre filled with joyous people”

    “IN 1982 I bought the recently released album: “Live in the City of Light” by grandiose Scottish stadium fillers, Simple Minds. Not particularly inspiring to me musically but visually a critical inspiration. The inside of the gatefold sleeve, (remember them?), showed a photograph of the Glasgow pomp pop merchants playing to an entire town in Locarno Switzerland; a town centre filled with joyous people bathed in an orange glow as the sun set, communally watching world class artists perform in their own town.

    “A mere 35 years later I achieved my version of that night. On July 7, last year we had 8,000 visitors see 58 acts in eight venues all over Thame. We had our free, multi-genre festival that brought the people of Thame out of their homes and into the community and bought people from outside our community into Thame.

    “It was a success. Three of the high street business had the best trading day in their history; we had no security incidents, two minor medical calls, no official complaints, we started and finished on time and, like the well bought up children we all are, we cleared up after ourselves.

    “Thame is an ambitious town”

    “So, for 2018. What’s next? Well, Thame is a growing town, and I believe Thame is an ambitious town; ambitious for a quality of life that aspires not only to a choice of restaurants, not only to a high street where the shops are not all hairdressers and seemingly most importantly, not only where the streets are pot-hole free. No. Ambitious for a cultural life. To be a great place to live. To do our part, we are expanding and aiming higher. We are offering more and going for high quality.

    “Our festival is adding three more elements; a classical concert and a songwriter’s competition on the Friday evening, and a music convention to join the main festival on Saturday, July 14. The classical concert will be in St. Mary’s Church with a programme that will take us from Bach to Broadway via Chopin, Rachmaninov, Puccini to Gershwin, Cole Porter and more. I’m thrilled that the we have managed to get renowned soprano, Ann MacKay, who was trained by Schwarzkopf and sung all over the world – Sydney opera house, Royal Albert Hall and now St. Mary’s Thame!

    “World class stuff”

    “With Ann will be Jack Gibbons, a phenomenal pianist and the world’s leading interpreter of Gershwin. He plays Carnegie Hall and is flying in from the US. This is world class stuff!

    “Also, on Friday, in the Barns Centre, we will have our songwriter’s competition final. We have invited songwriters to submit original songs. We have a panel of industry experts who will select the 10 best to come and perform their song and talk about it in front of a live audience. The winner will get to play on the main stage on Saturday and receive significant financial and career support from sponsor, Christopher Ward limited. Can we find the next Ed Sheeran in Thame?

    “The third new bit. On Saturday we have added a music industry convention. Again, in the Barns Centre we have Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music presenter, rock star in his own right and leading advocate of new music. Tom is hosting the convention aimed at helping career musicians understand and navigate the music business. Tom will be hosting panels including Martyn Ware of the Human League and Heaven 17, record producers John Leckie (Radiohead, Stone Roses) and George Shilling ((Steve Winwood, Teenage Fanclub) and also we have artist managers, agents and promoters from the music business. There’s also going to be workshops on song-writing, social media and getting radio play. It’s aimed at people who want help in moving their musical ambitions forward and ‘Saddo’s’ like me who just find the whole world of music and creativity fascinating. I’ll go just to hear the stories and anecdotes.

    Eight venues, Main stage, stalls and bars – all for FREE!

    “And of course, Saturday is also Thame Town Music Festival day: Again eight venues, a main stage in front of the town Hall, stall holders and bars. And again the festival will be FREE.  Our headliner, this year is Dr Feelgood, the legendary Rhythm and Blues band. We have had over 250 applications to play. We should be able to give 60 of them the opportunity.”

    John concluded: ” So, undoubtedly, we are going to throw a huge party in Thame on Saturday, July 14, but it is a party with a purpose. In the same way that an 18-year-old boy in Sheffield was inspired by a photograph on an album sleeve, if we manage to inspire even only one person to follow their music dreams, understand the value of community and be proud of Thame then we will have done our job.”

    Visit the Thame Town Music Festival website HERE