Category: More News

A new, £100k match funding scheme for community projects has been launched in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.

GLL, the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise, in partnership with crowd funding organisation Spacehive, has launched the GLL Community Foundation in the two districts.

The Foundation will provide grant funding and practical ‘in kind’ support with a value of up to £5,000 per individual project, to a wide range of community schemes. These could include creating or renovating public spaces such as parks or gardens, running sports tournaments or supporting cultural or community events.

As well as the Foundation’s financial contributions, GLL staff are available to offer practical support and consultancy, while crowd funder, Spacehive, provides a platform for local schemes to build support and fundraise from within their own community. A successful pilot scheme took part in 2016, seeing the GLL Community Foundation help six projects, raising £64,300 worth of cash and in kind support from 547 individual backers.

Chris Symons, Director of Business Development at GLL said: “We’re delighted to be launching the GLL Community Foundation in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse. We’re calling on local clubs, schools, charities and social enterprises that are looking to make positive change within the community, to consider the crowd funding model we have created. Not only will they have access to match funding of up to £5,000 and practical ‘in kind’ support, they will also have the chance to engage with and seek support from local residents via Spacehive’s crowd funding platform.

Chris Gourlay, Founder and CEO at Spacehive added: “This exciting partnership represents the powerful effect of what can be achieved through the collaboration of communities, councils and companies. GLL are working closely with local communities to create a ‘place for everyone’ and through meaningful engagement with the people who live in the area have done just that.”

Any organisations in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse interested in learning more about the GLL Community Foundation and how it may be able to support their project should email: communityfoundation@gll.org

THAME high street rocked last Saturday, when the town added a music festival to its growing reputation for innovative events attracting locals and visitors to the town.

The audience of all ages, who came to enjoy a running programme of bands on the main stage by the town hall, grew and grew to at least 2,000 people, some of them bringing their own camping chairs and settling in for the duration. In between – and sometimes at the same time – other performances of all musical genres, filled many of the pubs and restaurants in the town centre and the Snooker Club too (those Mercia boys will go far!), where satellite sets were being performed to packed venues.

The blazing weather too played its part in creating an atmosphere of holiday, community and a love for music all rolled into one, and business was brisk for the open-air bar, the Vinyl records stall and a variety of food vendors from all round the world, from Jamaica to Peru. And, by the way – it was all FREE!

The Thame Town Music Festival was the dream of Jonnie Littler, Founder and organise of Thame’s First Thursday Music Club, who managed to persuade the town and district councils to support his venture, and with an army of yellow-T shirted volunteers as Crew he pulled it off – and with some!

The festival was officially launched from the main stage by the Mayor of Thame, Tom Wyse, setting the spirit of the day by ‘playing’ a guitar riff on an inflatable guitar. Then the real music started with Rock a Billy band, Hiway 51, which includes Thame’s very own guitar shop owner, Phil Carwardine. Then, with a change of mood, came The Boodlum Band with their hilarious mix of comedy and music, before the multi-talented Emma Stevens wowed the crowd.

From then on, it was a succession of great music, including the deft and dazzling Dung Beatles, the very good Van Susans (Quote: ‘The Levellers for a new generation’) and the lovely, singing Lady In the Van, Nikki Loy, that built and built to the excitement of the headline act, Glen Matlock and Friends; Glen – founding member of The Sex Pistols, now grey but with a slick of hair that involuntarily fell down the middle of his forehead, to be frequently swept back with a comb – still as cool as ….well….as that word that rhymes with luck! And the crowd loved it – especially a comically respectful rendition of ‘God save the Queen’ which, though missing the anarchy and rawness of the teenage ‘Pistols, was as raucous as any middle-aged Republican could have hoped for.

As twilight fell over the scene, Welsh Indie-Roots band, Rusty Shackle, Towersey and Beaconfest favourites, rocked the day to a close. As the crowd wended its way home, there was just time if you were heading that way, to catch some very cool jazz at Jack and Alice’s. Nice !

Still reeling from a ‘brilliant’ and a very hard day’s work, Jonnie said: ” From all of us on the festival team, ‘thank you’ to the people of Thame. We threw a party and everyone came!”

After the event, social media was buzzing with messages of thanks and congratulations and there’s no doubt that Thame has seen the first of what will surely become, the event of the town’s festival calendar. Here are just some of the tweets and Facebook comments:

“Fantastic event @TTMFest An amazing success. Great to see a community coming together #fortheloveofmusic. Congratulations to all.”

“Amazing day and so well organised with so many class acts….thank you ❤”

Via facebook, from volunteer, Michele Pethers, who was in charge of looking after the artists: “Feeling shattered but very proud to be part of the volunteering team for Thame Town Music Festival and what a wonderful day it was! The town centre was heaving with people, all the venues were full with people enjoying all kinds of different music, and the town centre was buzzing with people dancing and singing; what a truly lovely day!”

Roll on 2018 !

NB Thame.Net was there all day and you can see all our pictures HERE

IT’S all change at the top as former oil industry employee who spends much of his spare time volunteering and fundraising in the local community, takes up the reins as president of the Rotary Club of Thame.

John Singer was welcomed as the new president of the Rotary Club of Thame on July 5, at the Three Horseshoes Pub in Towersey.

John has been a Rotarian for over 15 years, much of which was in Scotland, and his commitment to the club has earned the respect of fellow members who were only too pleased to vote him in as their new president for the forthcoming year.

John said: “I am delighted to become the new president of our club. It’s going to be a very exciting year. We’re hoping to try out a lot of new things and are looking for enthusiastic men and women to join us. We have a lot of fun and really enjoy ourselves, on top of all the fundraising we do, and would love to hear from anyone interested in joining us and making a real difference to the community.

“This year, we are planning to start another fundraising event, The Rotary Darts Marathon, which I know will have the whole communities of Thame and surrounding villages joining in and having a great time. We will continue to build on the success of the Thame Swimathon which will take place on February 25, next year. I am looking forward to meeting and working with local groups and really getting people involved with Rotary. There is so much to do and enjoy.”

John and his wife, Lyn, who live in Chalgrove,  only moved into the area five years ago to live nearer to their children Laura, a GP, and Richard, MD of an internet media company, and joined Rotary to help settle into the area and meet new people. John explained: “The warm welcome from Club members has really helped us both feel at home and involved with the area. I would strongly recommend anyone who is new to the area to give this club a try.”

To continue and to expand its fundraising and volunteering activities in the months and years to come, the group is looking for even more support from the local community and are welcoming new members, women and men, from the local communities of Thame, Chinnor, Long Crendon and neighbouring villages who can join our world of fun, friendship and fundraising.

To express interest in joining this vibrant club, visit www.thame.rotary1090.org or ‘like’ the group on: www.facebook.com/thamerotary

THAME Town Council’s annual Grant Award scheme is 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’.

This year a total of £14,750 was awarded to various community and non-for-profit projects, all of which will benefit the community of Thame. The following organisations received a grant as part of this year’s Grant Awards:

Lighthouse Thame, Life Education Thames Valley, Lord Williams’s School Day Nursery, Oxfordshire Association for the Blind,  Thame & District Day Centre,  Thame Sports Club, Thame Youth Projects Group, Thame Youth Theatre.

Free use of the Town Council’s facilities was awarded to Thame Arts & Literature Festival and Thame & District Twinning Association.

Applications for next year’s Grant Awards will open in Spring 2018. More information about the Grant Awards scheme can be found at www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/grant-aid

THAME Town Council is looking into the feasibility of developing a local, community-owned site for affordable homes by forming a Community Land Trust.

A group of councillors and the Town Clerk recently met a representative from the CLT Network to learn about the options open to it, eg whether to provide wholly for rent or a mixture of sales and rent, and how the scheme works. Usually, the land is either bought by the community, leased from a land owner or sometimes given by a local benefactor, and any homes remain in the community for the community, aimed at providing affordable home for people with a connection to the town.

A presentation about CLTs will be given to the whole town council in the next few weeks, to help it decide the next step for Thame.

More information about the National Community Land Trust Network HERE

See an example of how CLTs are working for communities in East Cambridgeshire HERE

THAME and District Day Centre, the independent local charity which has met at Thame Community Hospital in East Street for the past 30 years is launching a new website.

The Centre’s manager for the past 11 years, Gill Coleman, said: “Our work is about keeping people in contact and this is a way we can aim to keep in touch with our supporters, potential volunteers, and yes, especially those who would like to attend the Centre and those who may be in position to help them or advise them. A downloadable referral form can be found under the tab “Joining us” and a donation button has been added, should anyone wish to help us continue the good work that we do.

“With this launch we are keeping up with our town and we are keeping up with the times!”

The bright and beautifully designed website, created by Chinnor Website, details the work of the Centre which meets three days a week. The site’s statement of Welcome says: “We provide a day out with plenty of refreshments, a two-course hot meal and a variety of entertainment for people from Thame and some nearby villages, who are elderly, frail or perhaps isolated.”

Gill added: “Members and volunteers who have been involved with the Centre over the years will testify that it does what it says – on the Website.

One volunteer driver said: “This place contributes to everyone’s enjoyment of life, including mine.”

The Centre meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30 till 3pm at the Thame Community Hospital site in East Street, Thame.

There is much more on the Centre’s website which at : http://www.thameanddistrictdaycentre.co.uk/home/

SPANDAU Ballet frontman, Tony Hadley, will not now be opening the first Thame Town Musical Festival on Saturday (July 8).

Tony notified the festival organisers yesterday and today they released the following statement explaining why he has had to cry off:

“It is with great disappointment that we have to announce that Tony Hadley will be unable to come and open Thame Town Festival on Saturday as last minute changes to his band’s travel schedule means that he will be unable to get back to Thame from Wales and on to his concert on Saturday night in Southampton. Tony is very sorry to have let us down as he is a great supporter of both Thame and, of course, live music. Tony wishes the festival great success.”

It has been reported by the BBC that Tony Hadley announced on social media that he has left 1980s pop group Spandau Ballet, and “will not be performing” with them in the future.

In a facebook post he said: “I am required to state that I am no longer a member of the band”.  He didn’t say why he was leaving, but blamed “circumstances beyond my control.”

The group, who scored hits with True and Gold, broke up acrimoniously in the 1990s but had reformed in 2009.

The remaining members of the band, according to the BBC, have put the blame for the latest split on Hadley’s shoulders, stating on their official website: “Much to our frustration, Tony had made it clear in September 2016 that he didn’t want to work with the band anymore. This has not changed and 2015 was the last time we were able to perform or work with him. So we have now made the decision to move on as a band.”

The search is now on for a musical VIP to replace Tony Hadley and come along to Thame at mid-day on Saturday to launch the Thane Music festival. If anyone has any connections with a celebrity who might consider stepping into the breach, contact the organisers via John Litter

THAME’S very own Champion Market Retailer finalist, Chris Hurdman, is well known for his generosity in helping raise funds for local charities through market events and the Community Stall at the Tuesday market. But his next, personal venture is a real step up (literally!) with his daughter, Evie.

On August 9, Evie and Chris will be climbing from Paphos Harbour to the peak of Mount Olympus climbing to 1952 meters over some 80km. The journey will be taken over four days. You can sponsor Chris and Evie and all donations will go to Helen and Douglas House.

Each hour that Helen and Douglas is open, it needs to raise around £600 – that’s 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The father and daughter pair hope to raise a total of £2400 – one hours’ funds for every day they climb.

Go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ to find out more and donate.

SPATULAS at the ready; Aprons on and stand by your ovens! It’s time for this year’s BIG THAME BAKE.

This year there are nine exciting categories to choose from and all entries are open to both adults and children. All of the cakes will be judged by Thame Food Festival’s star Bakers, who will also be appearing on the Baking Stage at the festival on Sunday, October 1.

So dust down your mixing bowl, get planning your bakes and cakes and enter NOW to become the next Baking King or Queen of Thame.

The categories and their judges are:

Chris (p) up your Choux – Chris Wheeler
Using choux pastry, devise, design, fill, build and bake any way you want. Savoury or sweet, piled high or laid beautifully on a plate – just make sure they are Chris (p), not soggy … and utterly delicious!

Titivate your Traybakes – Chetna Makan
Anything goes! Glitter, icing, spice, fruit, chocolate or more – go for it. Titivate to your heart’s content – NOTHING is too much!

Prove you can make it rise – Paul Jagger
Paul will show you his rise, if you show him yours! Use your imagination to design and bake a spectacular bread that stands out from the crowd and stuns us all.

Gluten Free Bakes – Howard Middleton
Howie has lovely buns! And his pastries aren’t too shabby either! You can make anything here, anything at all, just as long as it’s Gluten Free.

Brexit Bakes – Jose Pizarro
Let’s celebrate our European cousins’ delicious cakes and bakes. Anything you want from any European country and the lovely Jose will run his keen eye and palate over them. There are so many exciting European bakes out there, so make them and bring them to Blighty’s very best Food Festival!

Rolling rolling rolling…. – Richard Burr
Richard likes precision – design and bake a perfectly measured and rolled cake….Meringue based or a light and airy fatless sponge – we don’t mind – just make it a beauty.

Flying Freestyle! – Jane Devonshire
Whatever you want to make – Jane loves a surprise! Maybe it’s your very own recipe, or one handed down through your family. Tarts, Puffs, Brownies, Fruity or Chocolatey – we don’t mind – just fly freestyle and bring us your very best celebration bakes.

Harvest Festival Happiness – Jane Beedle
Autumn’s fruit and vegetable basket is overflowing with delicious produce. Bake a stunner using the best the land can offer at this time of year. Savoury or sweet we really don’t mind – just make it utterly seasonal.

Lotte’s Kitsch Cakes – Lotte Duncan
You can make anything you want as long as it’s completely over the top and it still tastes delicious. Glitter, icing, cream, sprinkles, jelly, chocolate, marzipan, strawberries – ANYTHING! Decorate madly and make it loud, make it fun and make it kitsch!

Thame Food Festival, originally based in the town centre, has been going since 2008 and last year attracted in the region of 28k people. This year will see the festival relocating to Thame Show Ground and extending the programme over two days – Saturday, September 30, and Sunday, October 1. Supported by Raymond Blanc, this year is aiming to have about 300 artisan producers alongside demonstrations from many leading chefs and bakers. The first day will be dedicated to chefs and the second day to bakers.

The event attracts a number of high profile celebrities from both the chef and baking world including Master Chef and Great British Bake Off stars. Take a look at the Big Thame Bake 2016 video

Details about Thame Food Festival 2017 can be found at: http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk/