THE Christmas Tractor Run that took place last weekend in Thame, raised over £10,000 for the Air Ambulance.
Posting on social media, the organisers thanked everyone who went and supported the event and all those who donated prizes.
Image courtsey of Carl Stockwell
The target was to raise £10,000 and 150 vehicles, but the final tally was in fact £10,007.58 with a total 236 vehicles.
“We can’t be more proud of how well the event went and thank you all again for your support and we look forward to our third annual road run next year!” concluded the post.
RECTORY Homes’s most recent application for a development including 78 units of ‘housing with care’ on land at The Elms in Thame, has been objected to by Thame Town Council.
Meadow land at ‘The Elms’ in Thame, that Rectory Homes wants to build on
Despite representations from Simon Vickers of Rectory Homes and Sara Livadeas, a Care Consultant, explaining the benefits of this type of choice of living for the elderly, and Mr Vickers stating that Rectory Homes had ‘thought long and hard about what best could go on this site’ and had established that extra care provision is the most needed’, town councillors objected on the grounds that the plan does not comply with the Thame Neighbourhood Plan’s policies for the site.
The site already has planning permission for 37 residential dwellings and publically accessible open space, granted in August 2015.
You can read the town council’s minutes of the meeting, held on Tuesday, December 18, HERE and the access the council’s Neighbour Plan Continuity Officer’s report and recommendations HERE Agenda item 4, for more detail.
FOLLOWING a decision to recommend rejection of a plan to turn a disused carpet warehouse in Thame into a sports and leisure centre, the applicant has expressed disappointment at the decision.
At Tuesday evening’s Thame Town Council’s Planning committee meeting, although on-site parking had been increased from the original plan to 35 spaces, plus 20 cycle racks, and other amendments had been made, Councillors voted five to three to recommend refusal of the application. The reasons given for the refusal were to do with the potential for parking problems for near neighbours, and the fact that the proposal went against the neighbourhood plan which designates the site as employment land and not for leisure.
The applicant, Martin Shipperley, told Thame.Net after the meeting: “It wasn’t the result we wanted so obviously disappointed, however there where many positives to take away and we felt apart from the parking and traffic flow information (Ed. that councillors said was missing, to help make a decision) that the overall feeling of the councillors was good, an improvement on the last sitting.
“We can now answer the questions that the councillors had and gather the evidence to back this up. We now have to decide if we are to go back to TTC or take it to committee who seem much more accommodating to our plans for the community Fitness centre we and the people of Thame want.” (Martin Shipperley’s agent, Jeffrey Emett, told the committe that 130 letters from individuals had been received)
You can read the full application and comment on it HERE
THANKS to fans of the the popular TV series, Midsomer Murders, and the volunteers who take them on a tour of Midsomer locations in Thame, Thame ‘good causes’ are to benefit from tour ticket sales.
Thame’s Midsomer Walking Tours are supporting three good causes in Thame, with a contribution of over £1600 from their ticket income this year. The Mayor’s Charities, the Sharing Life Trust and Thame Youth Projects, received a share of a cheque for £804, presented to the Mayor, Cllr Ann Midwinter, on Wednesday, December 12. Thame Museum, a registered charity, will also receive £804 towards its upkeep and maintenance, and two of its trustees, Cllrs David Dodds and David Bretherton, were also presented with a cheque on the same day.
Tour guides present a cheque to the Mayor of Thame
Midsomer Tours of Thame donated part of their ticket income to the Mayor’s Charities and Thame Museum last year, but this year’s contribution is more than double last year’s.
Thame’s Midsomer Tours have enjoyed growing popularity since they started in May 2017. In 2018, bookings were taken from nearly 400 Midsomer fans who came from the local area and further afield in the UK, as well as from other countries, including Australia, Scandinavia, USA, and Germany. The tours are run by six trained volunteers who are all members of Thame Players’ Theatre. Tickets are £7.50 per person and it was agreed at the outset that the tour guides themselves would receive no income, preferring to donate two thirds of receipts to the Mayor’s Charities and Thame Museum (a Midsomer filming location), while the remaining income would fund future promotion.
Thame’s buildings have frequently been used as filming locations for the popular ITV series Midsomer Murders. It has regularly featured, either as Causton, or as one of many villages in the fictional ‘Midsomer County’. The tours take in many of 20-plus filming locations in the town used in different episodes. Midsomer Murders is still going strong after 21 years, with screenings in the UK and overseas. Over six million people watch it in this country and millions more in over 100 countries worldwide. Having seen the show on TV, people want to come and visit the quintessentially English towns and villages of Midsomer.
Tony Long, coordinator for the Midsomer tour guides, said: “We’re delighted with the growing popularity of Thame’s Midsomer Tours, and are equally pleased to be donating even more of the proceeds to good causes such as the Mayor’s Charities and Thame Museum. We’re looking forward to running the tours next year, on Wednesdays from Easter until the end of October. We believe the tours help develop tourism and contribute to the local economy, attracting visitors from the UK and abroad to the historic town of Thame.”
The Mayor’s Charities this year are The Sharing Life Trust, which helps assist those in need in the Thame area. They have supported, and continue to support, the Thame Good Neighbour Scheme, Thame Community Bank, Red Kite Family Centre and the Food Bank. For more details go to www.sharinglifetrust.org.
Thame Youth Projects, which helps to support young people in Thame, and have set up a Youth Café, are looking to expand youth opportunities and safe places for the young in the town. For more details go to www.thameyouthprojects.org.uk
Thame Museum is one of Thame’s Midsomer filming locations, and the starting point for the tours. The tours were derived from an original tour created by Museum trustee David Dodds, and are held under the auspices of 21st Century Thame, an organisation bringing together local businesses, community groups and councils to help keep Thame vibrant and viable as a market town.
Midsomer Tour tickets for 2019 may be purchased in person at thamemuseum.org (see website for opening times), or online at ticketsource.co.uk/thamemidsomer.
Bespoke tours can be arranged for groups of four people upwards. For more information please contact Tony Long at thamemidsomertours@gmail.com or on 07881 688895.
A free Midsomer Walking Trail leaflet details the Thame tour route and Midsomer locations in neighbouring Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire villages. It’s available from Thame Town Hall Information Centre and Thame Museum, as well as from local hotels, pubs, shops and cafes.
DISTINGUISHED guests, including representatives from the English Cricket Board, council dignitaries, Thame’s MP John Howell and sponsors joined the Mayor of Thame, Ann Midwinter on Sunday (17/12) for the officially opening of Thame Town Cricket Club’s brand new club house.
Before cutting the ceremonial ribbon, Mrs Midwinter paid tribute to those who planned and built the original clubhouse back in the mid 1970s (which was situated behind the new building up until this September), including Ken Patey and the late John Wrench. She said it was an honour to be able to open a building that is not only an outstanding cricket clubhouse but which is also a great asset for the community as a whole.
Thame Town Cricket Club’s President, Matt Swain thanked all those involved in bringing the project to its conclusion on-time and on budget, including Project Leader Simon Keen, of Ridge and Partners LLP, and paid particular tribute the Thame’s Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, to Ben Holland the Architect, to Steve McDonald and the Angus Lachlan whose original idea it was to build a new club house. Matt also thanked town councillors, South Oxfordshire District Council, the ECB, LEADER, Thame Welfare Trust, Travelodge, Farol Ltd, TOE2 and Grundon Waste Management Ltd, as well as Marston’s Brewery, the cricket club’s fundraising team, The Debenture Club and everyone who had bought a brick or made a donation – and Nigel ‘The Do-Gooder’ !
Matt’s grateful thanks were also extended to the club’s sponsors, J Bennett & Son Insurance, Mobalpa Kitchens, and the club’s new sponsor for the coming year, Field Sales Solutions.
The guests enjoyed sharing a celebratory drink and buffet upstairs in the new club house, some reminiscing with two very special people, Gill Wrench, the widow of John Wrench, and Ken Patey, who with John instigated the building of the old club house, back in the 1970s, in the field that the club then shared with a herd of sheep in between lambing time. Gill recalled serving homemade sandwiches and tea under a tarpaulin before the clubhouse kitchen was ready, and Ken recalled the lack of a changing room, necessitating cricketers changing under a overhang of the old barn, and hanging their clothes on a nail!
“Great times,” said Gill. It was cold, hard work but always great fun!” Ken recalled how the two men had to negotiate with Cllr David Dodds of Thame Urban District Council, and Dr Marcus over the plans, and how one of the planning provisos was that they had to have sheep painted on the back of the sight screens so that the neighbours could still look out at sheep during matches!
For the future, the new Thame Town Cricket Club building will be used – and already is being used – by local groups including Thame Netball Club and Thame Cycling Club, and it is an aspiration that Thame Hockey Club will come to use it in the winter too! The venue can be hired for events, and from February 2019, will be the new home of Thame and District Day Centre.
This grand, new community building has already become a very welcome and important contributor the fabric of Thame and a fitting successor to the old clubhouse that will remain in the memories of so many of all ages who enjoyed club teas, Sixth Form discos and birthday parties there.
FOLLOWING a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man from Thame has been jailed after being found guilty of a number of sex offences against a child.
After a seven-day trial at Oxford Crown Court in November, Damien Baker, aged 39, of Youens Drive in Thame, was found guilty of 11 counts of indecent assault on a girl and two counts of rape of a girl.
He returned to the same court on Thursday (13/12) and was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment with and additional one year extended licence period at the end of his prison sentence.
Baker was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The victim, was sexually abused as a child over a 10 year period.
Baker was originally arrested on April 7, 2016, and following a lengthy investigation, he was charged with the offences on March 5, 2018.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Jenny Hanks of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, based at Cowley police station, said: “This has been a long and complex investigation, and is testimony to the bravery and the courage I have witnessed from both the victim and witnesses in this case.
“I would also like to thank our partner agencies, particularly Oxfordshire Social Services, in the work and support that they have offered throughout.
“As a result of this verdict, a predatory and dangerous sex offender is now off the streets.
“I hope that this sentence will finally bring at least some comfort to the victim.
“Thames Valley Police will continue to support victims of sexual abuse and I would encourage anybody who are victims to come forward and report this to us.”
THIS coming Sunday, Thame Cinema 4 All will be screening, FREE OF CHARGE, the 1968 classic, The Producers, Directed by Mel Brooks, Starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder.
Arguably Mel Brooks’ funniest film, this riotous satire of the business side of Broadway – based on Brooks’ own experience of show business – celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
Max Bialystock is a sleazy, brutally cynical theatrical producer down on his luck, reliant on romancing a series of wealthy widows to keep things afloat. He hires Leo Blum, a timid, neurotic accountant (Wilder) to have a look at the books; together they conceive a plan to capitalise on a tax loss loophole, and raise much more than they need to stage a play that will be a guaranteed flop.
This will be a script so shoddy, on a subject so beyond-the-pale, and starring an actor whose performance is so teeth-gnashingly awful, that the show will close on the first night – leaving our partners in crime to cash in without having to pay back their investors. Gleeful, hysterical, frenzied, bawdy, breathtakingly outrageous, this is a perennial favourite of critics and audiences alike, a classic that will leave you slack jawed at its audacity
THE PRODUCERS this Sunday 23rd December
NOTE 7.00pm START – 98 minutes long – Certified PG
FREE SHOWING NO ONLINE BOOKING
Doors open half an hour before films start, licensed bar
Thame Cinema 4 All at Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame. Thame
TODAY’s the day for the AgriSocial’s Charity Tractor run, that will pass through Thame and finish up at Thame Showground.
Image Courtesey of: Michael’s Agri Photography
This year the benefiting charity will be Cancer Research UK which all moneys raised will go to the charity to help find a cure for cancer.
All age Tractors, Lorries and any other road legal machinery is invited to join. The route map and full details are on the Agrisocial facebook page HERE
On the Show Ground, there’ll be a food van selling bacon and sausage rolls etc for the morning half of the run, and a hog roast waiting for all the participants on return, for just £2 a bap!
There’ll also be a raffle and an auction at the finish of the run. Raffle tickets will be £5 for a line of fiv e tickets.
Entry will be £10 per tractor/lorry and all proceeds will go to the charity on behalf of the farming community! AND there will be a prize for the best Christmas decorated tractor/lorry/machine!
Entry forms will be available on the day. All participants must hold a full UK driving licence and all vehicles must hold insurance.
AFTER five years of hard work, Thame Town Cricket Club’s new Pavilion will be opened by the Mayor of Thame, Ann Midwinter and the club’s Chairman, Matt Swain, on Sunday, December 16, 2018.
Thame Cricket Club’s new club house
The previous clubhouse was converted from a disused barn, close to St. Mary’s church, by a spirited group of members in the 1970s and it served the club well over four decades. With the growth in the club’s membership and its range of activities, however, it became clear that neither the building nor its outdated facilities could continue to support the needs of several hundred regular users.
As club spokesman, Andy Jinman explained: “For most members of the club, while there was little doubt that their clubhouse had come to the end of its useful life, there were certainly mixed feelings about its demolition and what they might find underneath it! Now that its successor is complete, there is an overwhelming sense of pride in what has been achieved and of excitement for what the future holds, with the ultimate aim of becoming the best cricket club in Oxfordshire!
“The job of designing the new clubhouse fell to a local firm of architects, HollandGreen, back in 2014. The building had to be modern and accessible inside, whilst in keeping with the conservation area. The clubhouse also had to meet the current and projected needs of the community, whilst adhering to the specifications set by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
“The Club is extremely grateful for the help and support of the Town Council, who shared our vision of a new sports and community building. Finally, in October 2017 the tender process resulted in the selection of specialist firm, Sports Clubhouses Ltd, who began work in January this year. Sports Clubhouses Ltd understood the needs of the club and the challenges they faced and worked with them in a collaborative and consultative manner to deliver a building not only on time, but within budget.
“Naturally, a vision can only become a reality with funding, so sincere thanks go to many people and organisations for making it possible: Thame Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, the ECB, LEADER, Thame Welfare Trust, Travelodge, Farol Ltd, TOE2 and Grundon Waste Management Ltd, Marston’s Brewery, the Cricket Club’s Fundraising team, The Debenture Club and everyone that bought a brick or made a donation.
With its central location reachable on foot or by bike, it is a superb venue for Cricket and a fantastic community asset. The club has already taken bookings from local companies for conferences, a martial arts group, two toddler groups, exercise classes, including yoga and pilates, birthday parties and a wedding reception. TTCC is also delighted to welcome the Thame & District Day Centre in the New Year, plus two local sports clubs who already call the clubhouse their home – first of all, Thame Cycling Club, who celebrated their fifth anniversary with a Christmas party there last weekend and secondly Thame Netball Club, established back in 2008.
“Finally, very positive news for the club on the back of the opening – Thame-based company, Field Sales Solutions have agreed to become the lead sponsor of the new Thame Town Cricket Clubhouse. Julian Cordy, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to partner with Thame Town Cricket club and the wider community of Thame, through sponsoring the new clubhouse, which is a proud new home to the cricket club, all its members, as well as Thame Cycling Club, Thame Netball club, Thame & District Day Centre and various local fitness & activity groups.”
Field Sales Solutions describe themselves as ‘working in partnership with leading consumer brands nationwide to activate sales, drive distribution and deliver return on investment, by providing ‘proud’, engaged and capable field teams; trained and empowered with clear objectives, actionable insights and effective technology, to achieve measurable sales success across retail and out-of-home’.
Julian Cordy added: “We wholeheartedly believe in partnership; our values are summarized in the phrase ‘be Proud’ and we aim to ‘make a difference’, so we are proud of this new partnership and believe it will make a difference to the community we live and work in.
“Field Sales Solutions was born in Thame as a business in 2002. Our head office in Oxford House, on Oxford Rd, is a good ‘six’ from the cricket ground. We have grown our business consistently over the last five years, and now employ over 70 staff locally and proudly work in partnership with many other Thame businesses, so supporting the wider community through this sponsorship seems a natural step.
“We look forward to enjoying the venue ourselves as patrons and hope all enjoy this fabulous new facility of which the Town should ‘be Proud’.”
MUSIC in the Park, Thame, has donated £375 to Thame charity Self-Advocacy For Adults Requiring Independence (SAFARI). A cheque was presented to the charity’s Chair, Michelle Diffey, and Trustee, Linda Emery, by Chris Fram, Chair of Music in the Park’s organising committee.
SAFARI will use the grant to help it fund music events. One of these was the SAFARI Christmas Party, which took place at Thame’s Guides Headquarters on December 2, and the grant will also be used to help pay for an event next summer.
According to Michelle Diffey: “Music gives so much happiness to our adults and is such a great leveller, helping the communications within the group”. Chris Fram added: “Music in the Park is delighted to be able to make a donation to this very worthwhile local charity, which does such great work for adults with a learning or physical disability living in and around Thame.”
If you are a local individual or organisation interested in applying for a grant that to support art, music or recreation, or other leisure time occupation of individuals or organisations that live or operate in the Thame area, see the Grants section of Music In The Park’s website: https://www.musicinthepark.org.uk/grants
Music in the Park
Music in the Park is an annual, one-day, family-oriented performing arts festival that takes place in Elms Park, Thame. The 2019 festival will be the ninth. Music in the Park is a not-for-profit organisation run by an enthusiastic band of volunteers. All proceeds from the event are invested in the local community.
The event also provides a great platform for local talent. Most of the artistes are local. There are three stages and the entertainment spans all genres of music: rock, pop, blues, acoustic, classical, jazz, ukulele and choir, as well as various types of dance. Winners of the Lord Williams’s School “Singer of the Year” competition are also invited to perform at the event.
www.musicinthepark.org.uk
Self-Advocacy For Adults Requiring Independence (SAFARI)
SAFARI is a Thame-based charity with the following objectives:
The relief of adults with a learning or physical disability living in and around Thame, Oxfordshire, in particular by the provision of help and support for them and for their families, dependants and carers;
To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for the recreation or other leisure time occupation for people who have need thereof by reason of a learning or physical disability with the object of improving their conditions of life.
To promote social inclusion for adults with learning and physical disabilities who are socially excluded by providing them with advice, information, support and recreational facilities to help them develop independence.
Follow Music in the Park on social media
Follow Music in the Park on Twitter: @MusicInThePark.
“Like” Music in the Park on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MusicInTheParkThame.
