Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Grape Success for Local Wine

    THAME based OxBuck Wine Collective began in 2017 from a small group of locals with garden vines in their gardens. Now, in year two, the group have finished their 2017 ‘Vintage’ – a tasty little Rose which was co produced with the Tooting group and this year they set their sights high for a vintage of their own.

    Unloading the juicy harvest!

    Founders Robin Butler and Ali Gray weighed in nearly 400Kg of local grapes from Thame and surrounding villages which were collected and weighed at Bucksum Farm Shop in Long Crendon. Bucksum then drove the grapes, with Robin, to Halfpenny vineyard near Dudley where they will be transformed into wine.

    “We love growing things and hate food waste so this made perfect sense to us and with professional heavy duty scales, a van and some keen Buckinghamshire customers, we were glad to help,” said Tracy and David Newman.

    Robin and  Ali will go and taste the wine in January and the 400 or so bottles will be shared amongst the collective with any excess hopefully being sold locally at Deli No 5 in Thame, by Easter.

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Love is in the air(s)!

    LOVE is a subject that has inspired poets and composers from time immemorial – and is also the subject of Thame Chamber Choir’s concert at 8pm on Saturday, October 20, at St Mary’s Church, Thame, as part of the 2018 Thame Arts & Literature Festival.

    Together with international tenor Adrian Thompson, the choir will be presenting music and words on the theme of love, by composers as diverse as Monteverdi, Holst, Brahms, Eric Whitacre and Jerome Kern, interspersed with poetry and prose.

    The evening will take us from love’s first bloom, through lust, including some rather risqué words (fortunately in Italian!), partnership, betrayal and on to love in old age…and beyond.

    Tickets are available from the TAL Box Office, price £10, and at the door price £12. Tickets are free for under 18s.
    For further information contact Peter Smith on 01844-212900, 07785-258156, or e-mail peter@pjs-marketing.co.uk.

    www.thamechamberchoir.org

  • Cultural sponsorship opportunity for a Thame business

    A Thame singing group, that has been performing quality choral concerts in Thame and Haddenham for over 50 years, is looking for local business sponsors to help with the rising costs of hiring an orchestra, professional soloists, library music scores and other costs associated with staging such performances by composers such as Mozart, Brahms, and Handel.

    Anyone who runs a local business and would be interested in finding out more about the advantages of supporting an important aspect of Thame’s cultural life, is invited to contact Thame Choral Society viaThame Choral Society’s facebook page: LINK HERE

  • Contract worker crushed by reversing lorry – inquest begins

    A groundworker, who was run over by a reversing lorry on a Thame building site, died ‘instantly’ a jury inquest heard today.


    Stephen Buck, who lived in Neath, North Wales, died whilst working on a housing development, owned by Bloor Homes, on April 18, 2017. Mr Buck’s wife, Kay, told the inquest that her husband had worked in the building trade for 40 years, and that he loved his job. A digger driver, Nick O’Brien, recalled how he saw Mr Buck under the rear of the reversing lorry, hanging on trying, unsuccessfully not to be pulled underneath.

    CCTV footage showing Mr Buck in a high vis jacket with his back to the moving lorry, was shown to the jury but was stopped at the point of impact. After describing Mr Buck’s ‘devastating’ injuries, the pathologist, Dr Nicholas Hunt, said that there was nothing anyone could have done to save his life.

    Stephen Buck, 58, was a subcontractor working for ECL Construction.

    The hearing is expected to last for three days.

    SOURCE: BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/

     

  • Advertisement feature: Beautiful luxury new homes launched this weekend

    AWARD winning new homes builder, Dandara, is putting the finishing touches to their new homes launch event at The Grove, Stanbridge Road, Haddenham, Bucks, taking place this weekend October 6 & 7, 2018, featuring four beautifully prepared show homes.

    If you’re looking for a gorgeous new home built to the very highest standards and benefitting from excellent travel connections, set within an exquisite, much sought-after village with all the life enhancing qualities that the hills, open fields and clear skies offer, only 46 minutes by train from London – then you’ll find it at The Grove, Haddenham.

    There are many reasons for choosing to live at The Grove with ample amenities to cater for all tastes, including; countryside walks, local community social activities and sports clubs. For those with families there is a wide range of state, grammar, and independent schools to choose from, including one highly rated primary and two junior schools situated within a 10-minute walk of the development.

    Each of the new home designs and layouts has been carefully considered to appeal to a range of discerning home buyers: from first time purchasers, to young and growing families, downsizers and those that seek easy living bungalow style homes with spacious gardens.

    Individuality was a key consideration in the planning of the development with every opportunity taken to create attractive street scenes by blending a wide range of home styles together with subtle details and exterior finishes, ensuring that new homebuyers are spoilt for choice.

    The homes have been sensitively planned around the meandering natural landscape, featuring open spaces, hedgerows, small copses and a play area to make the best of the local environment with the Chiltern Hills taking centre stage.

    Save the date, come and see us – we’ll have four beautiful homes open for you to visit, and our team on hand to answer questions and take reservations. Find out how ‘Help to Buy’ can enable you to move to the beautifully new home of your dreams…

    We’ll also have coffee and snacks available, with games to keep the kids quiet too!

    For further information and to register your interest about any of the new homes at The Grove, visit the beautifully furnished show homes and sales and marketing suite, open seven days a week 10am – 5.00pm or call 0800 5875 171.

  • Campaigners take to the streets of Thame as part of National Day of Action

    GROUPS campaigning for a People’s Vote, including those from the Thame group, were out in force on Saturday, September 29, as part of a National Day of Action.

    Activists and supporters from the People’s Vote campaign took to the streets in Thame, as well as across the rest of the UK, to demand their right to a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.

    Over 100 local groups, including thousands of activists and supporters, took part in events across the UK. They delivered 1 million leaflets, and ran street stalls in towns and cities the length and breadth of the country, including areas that voted both Remain and Leave.

    The People’s Vote National Day of Action followed on from the hugely successful People’s Vote Summer of Action, which saw mass rallies take place in Bristol, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cambridge and Cardiff. The People’s Vote March for the Future takes place in London on October 20. It is expected to be the biggest Brexit-related march so far, larger than the previous People’s Vote march which was attended by over 100,000 people.

    Robin Storey of Open Britain Thame said: “Thousands of leaflets are being delivered locally by volunteers to advertise the London march for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal on October 20. The group will be meeting to take the 09:38 train from Haddenham. Volunteers attended a march and visited the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham to highlight the growing Conservatives for a Peoples Vote group, that we believe John Howell MP should now support. People’s Vote stalls take place Saturday, October 6, at 11am in Henley and 2pm in Thame.

    “Nobody voted to be poorer, but constituents’ jobs are at risk from a no deal or botched Brexit. BMW Mini in Cowley have warned publicly of the threat to their supply chain and have announced a shut down for a month from Brexit day. High tech businesses and the NHS around Oxford are losing qualified EU staff, who no longer feel welcome. ”

    More information about the People’s Vote Summer of Action can be read here: https://www.peoples-vote.uk/summer_of_action

    More information about the People’s Vote March for the Future can be read here: https://www.peoples-vote.uk/march

  • All ages can get creative with countryside photographic competition

    A photographic competition has been launched by the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which aims to encourage people to get outside, get some fresh air, learn about and appreciate the beautiful landscape around them, and get their creative juices flowing.

     

    The theme of the competition is ‘What do the Chilterns mean to you?’ and the photograph could be anything – wildlife, flowers, buildings, villages, communities – anything that celebrates the beauty of the area.

    The competition is aimed at children and adults with a separate category for under 16s, and there are some fantastic prizes to be won, all donated by local businesses, including a framed copy of the winning image courtesy of Pretty Like Pictures Framing Studio in Thame. Other prizes include:

    o An exclusive 50-minute ride with the driver on a diesel engine train offering a unique photo opportunity courtesy of Chiltern and Princes Risborough Railway
    o 3 Course Sunday Lunch for two people at The Crown pub in Sydenham
    o Tree Top experience for four people at Go Ape
    o Family Ticket on the Chiltern & Princes Risborough Railway
    o Family veg box from local online organic grocery supplier Ten Mile Menu
    o Mama Dor’s Kitchen Spice Blend Gift Box worth £25

    The short-listed photos will be displayed on an online poll where the public will be invited to vote for their favourite.

    To enter, click on the link HERE

  • £145,000 available for local groups in South Oxfordshire

    WHETHER it’s money for a new sports hall, church bell or a village noticeboard South Oxfordshire District Council now has £145,000 available for local groups doing building work or making major improvements.

    Today (1/10) marks the opening of the council’s capital grants scheme. Local organisations in South Oxfordshire have just six weeks to apply to the council for money towards improving, creating or replacing community facilities. The deadline for applications is November 15.

    Grants range from £1,000 which could cover the replacement of a village noticeboard to £100,000 towards a project like a new recreation ground, but the improvements must benefit local residents.

    In the last 18 months the council has helped fund more than 35 projects with grants ranging from £1,799 up to £250,000, including sea scout equipment in Clifton Hampden, church bell replacement in Cuddesdon and a new cricket pavilion in Thame.

    Crowmarsh Parish Council Playground Action Team successfully applied for a grant of just over £99,000 towards the building of a playground and outdoor gym in Crowmarsh. A parish council spokeswoman said: “Recently we were granted the last of the funding needed for the project to go ahead. Subject to legal agreements, this means we’re aiming for an Easter 2019 opening date, which is great news for the community. Thank you.”

    Councillor Lynn Lloyd, the council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “We are lucky to have so many active community groups in the district delivering great projects that benefit our residents and we want to help them achieve their goals. We’ve already awarded more than £700,000 this year but we still have £145,000 available. Groups must get their applications in before 15 November so I urge any groups planning community improvements to get in touch with our grants team and start an application as soon as possible.”

    For more information and advice please visit the council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk/grants, email the grants team at grants@southandvale.gov.uk or give them a call on 01235 422405.

  • One-Day Graded Squash Singles Tournament

    JUST two weeks to go to the next one-day graded squash singles tournament on October 13, at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame.

    It’ll be graded so different standards will play in different draws. Always some top players – always well worth coming down to watch !

    Enter here :

    https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/

    ALL standards welcome. You’ll only play others of the same standard !

    Guaranteed two competitive games of squash and entry fee includes lunchtime buffet and a beer !

  • Wherefore ART thou Thame? – Thame Art Crawl returns for 2018

    FOLLOWING the success of last year’s event, the Thame Arts and Literature Festival is once again increasing the spectrum of Arts on offer with the return of the Thame Art Crawl. Festival goers will have the chance to stroll around Thame between events, to explore 12 different venues hosting pop-up arts exhibitions around the town centre.

    Turning Hare by Jeremy James

    This year the event features the work of British sculptor and printmaker Jeremy James, who ranks as one of the foremost ceramic sculptors of his generation. Boasting a First class Honours Degree in Fine Art, and a Masters Degree in Ceramics, Jeremy works mainly with clay, exploring his subject matter – be they hares, crows, pigs or cockerels – with a freedom that gives his work an extra edge, straddling the great divide between crafts and fine art. Jeremy will be holding talks and demonstrations in the Augustus John Room at The Spread Eagle hotel at 11.30am & 3pm, on Saturday, October 20, with an open exhibition in between.

    Over 23 other artists will be on show across 12 venues around the town centre. Between them these talented artists bring to Thame a remarkable collection including paintings, pottery, photography, fused glass, sculptures and more. Alongside this there are demonstrations and events throughout the weekend giving residents and visitors the opportunity to get the creative juices flowing and participate.

    Pablo Picasso said ‘The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls’, and who are we to argue? So pick up a Thame Art Crawl Map from participating venues or The Town Hall, and enjoy a weekend of soul-cleansing culture on your doorstep.

    Event dates: October 18 – 21. More information at www.thameartcrawl.com or follow on Facebook or Instagram at thameartcrawl.