THE following roads will be closed from 11.50am to 1pm on Saturday, June 9, while the annual Thame Carnival passes through the town.
Please ensure you have moved an vehicles from the route in good time before and respect the marshals who will be protecting all the parade participants and spectators by upholding the road closure:
Moreton Lane into Southern Road to the High Street
High Street from its junction with Southern Road
High Street
Cornmarket
Upper High Street
East Street
Park Street
Thame Park Road from its junction with Jane Morbey Road
Station Yard
First XI lose narrowly to Slough – THAME 1st XI slipped to a narrow defeat at home to Slough last Saturday, May 26 . Batting first, Thame again started poorly, but captain Mike Beard and overseas Gami Kanishka recovered to 80-2. The fall of both in the same over turned the game and, despite the bold efforts of the tail, Thame stuttered to a below-par 175-9. The Slough response started well and the game looked over at 100-0. However, Thame showed the character that earned them promotion last season, with wickets falling in the later stages and Slough eventually scrambling home for the loss of seven wickets with just 10 balls to spare. Thame travelled to Tring this Saturday, June 2. (Report to follow)
James Neilson
Second XI make it four wins from four matches!
THAME second XI travelled to play Charlbury 1st XI, hoping to extend their 100% record in Division Four. James Nielson (67) and debutant Rafe Dickie (52) passed 100 for the first wicket. Quick runs by Daniel Patey (26), Jack Aston (48) and Richard Carr (27*) meant Thame ended on an impressive 275 from 50 overs. In response, Charlbury never looked like matching Thame’s big total, thanks to early wickets from Matt Ridgway (2-35) and Jonathan Jelfs (3-18). Daniel Patey (3-21) and Alastair Thomas (1-9) then kept Thame on top, Charlbury dismissed easily for only 83 runs. They welcomed second-placed East Oxford to Church Meadow this last Saturday, June2. (Report to follow)
Defiant tail snatches unlikely win for thirds
THAME thirds managed a dramatic win against Oxford fours after a top-order batting collapse. Batting first, the visitors struggled on a difficult track, as Nick Humphries (2-14) and Pete Tervet (0-19 off 13 overs) restricted Oxford to just 33-2 off 22 overs. Oxford reached 99 for 7 off 45 overs, with wickets shared around the bowlers. In reply, chasing 100 for victory, Thame started disastrously, slumping to 5 for 5. It was left to Chris Penny (16) to start a fight-back, followed by a defiant ninth-wicket partnership of 59 between Ian McStay (30) and Pete Tervet (30*) to bring the score to 81 for 9. Tervet and Rob Tomlin then edged Thame home, helping to secure 3rd spot. They next took on fifth-placed Kimble seconds, away, this Saturday, June 2. (Report to follow)
Fourths let down by their batting
THAME’S unbeaten fourths travelled to Bicester & North Oxford but lost the toss and batted. The innings started badly as only Shay Reading (26) reached double figures, leaving Thame on just 50 all out, from 22 overs. Despite having little chance of victory, Thame set about picking up bonus points for wickets. Ed Mather (2-25) removed the openers and then, with the game almost over, Rob Kenny (3-21) and a run out gave the Bicester middle-order a fright, before the hosts edged home. The fourths went on to face Aston Rowant fifths, at home, this last Saturday, June 2. (Report to follow)
Finally, Thame Town Cricket Club are looking for a scorer for their First XI – expenses paid; please contact Angus on 07966 280139.
THAME Town Music Festival will this year include a very special evening of Classical Music on the Friday, July 13 in St Mary’s Church, Thame as part of the musical celebrations.
This real treat of a musical programme will journey from Bach to Broadway via Chopin, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Puccini to Gershwin, Cole Porter and more.
Johnnie Littler, Director of the Thame Town Music Festival said: “We are delighted to have secured the internationally renowned soprano Anne Mackay and world class pianist Jack Gibbons, who is flying in from the US to play. This is the highest level of classical musical talent and a brilliant way to start this year’s Music Festival.”
Ann Mackay trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. She has appeared with the Royal Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, City of London Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Academy of St Martin’s in the Field, and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
As for Jack, here’s what Humphrey Burton, former Head of Music and Arts, at the BBC said: “Jack Gibbons is a unique phenomenon in the musical world of today. Thanks to his virtuosic skills Gibbons can hold an audience in thrall. His concert-giving style is equally attractive: before his performances he talks unassumingly but with great authority from the platform, drawing the listeners into a special relationship.”
The Classical Concert is a new addition to the very successful Thame Town Music Festival which this year features Dr Feelgood. The 2018 Festival also introduces a prestigious Song Writing Competition and a unique Music Convention in the Barns Centre hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Tom Robinson and sponsored by Christopher Ward watches.
The festival is free entry and tickets for the concert, convention and song-writers’ competition final are available at the Town Hall, Thame Barns Centre, Vintage and Modern Guitars and The Book House or on line at http://www.wegottickets.com
Thame Town Music Festival CIC is a Community Interest Company run not for profit by unpaid volunteers.
THAME’S much loved Duck Race returns this Sunday, June 10, once again run by the volunteers of Thame & District Round Table.
It’s a floating lottery, with around 2,000 individually numbered rubber ducks literally dumped into the river from the bridge on the Old Long Crendon Road, assisted by the Thame crew of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue and their high pressure hoses when possible!
If your numbered ticket matches one of the first three ducks over the line, you win a prize paid in John Lewis vouchers, with all other proceeds donated to local causes.
Captain Ducky will lead the armada of almost floatable vessels that oversee the ducks safe journey. This year we will also be joined by Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue (OXSAR) with their impressive wagon, as they oversee the safety of those overseeing the safety of the ducks…
The race starts on the old town bridge, accessed via Priest End, behind St Mary’s church. Gates open at 10.30am and the race will start at around 11am. There will be ice creams and music, so get down early, make sure you have your tickets, and share another fantastic morning.
Tickets are on sale for £2, from local groups and Thame Town Hall. There will also be a stall at Thame Carnival the day before. There may be a limited amount of tickets on sale at the start line on the morning of the race- in previous years the event has sold out so it’s best to buy your tickets in advance if you can.
JUNE 24, 2018 marks the 375th anniversary of the death of John Hampden, who died of his wounds received at the Battle of Chalgrove Field six days earlier.
The John Hampden regiment head up Thame Carnival in 1997
To mark Hampden’s life, the John Hampden Society will lay a wreath at the memorial plaque beside Hampden House, Thame (at the entrance to Greyhound Walk on the wall to the right) where the man known to history as ‘The Patriot’ died.
The wreath will be laid by the Society’s Patron, Miles Hobart-Hampden, 10th Earl of Buckinghamshire, who is a direct descendant of John Hampden. Lord Buckinghamshire will be repeating his action of exactly 25 years earlier, when he also laid a wreath at the same spot in the presence of over 400 spectators as a part of the newly-formed John Hampden Society’s first public event.
Bishop Dick Watson, former Bishop of Oxford, officiating at the original ceremony in 1993
Also attending this year’s ceremony will be the Mayor of Thame, Councillor Ann Midwinter, and members of the Executive Committee of the John Hampden Society.
Details and black-and white pictures of the original event 25 years ago can be seen at: http://www.johnhampden.org/…/uplo…/2016/07/Patriot_No.03.pdf
THAME’S weekly market has completed a month of special activities to celebrate ‘Love your Local Market’, a national initiative to promote markets, and has been hailed a success by the market traders.
Children making vegetable monsters at Thame Market
Thame Town Council, and Thame Farmers Market joined the main market on the second Tuesday of each month, with a host of fun activities for Thame shoppers to get involved in. These included live music from Simon Markland and a draw to win tickets to Music In the Park, Story Telling with Usborne Books, the opportunity to take a ‘selfie’ with ‘Prine Harry’ the week before the Royal wedding, a photo exhibition of picture taken of the market circa 1900 and last Tuesday, May 29, fun for the children on half-term, hosted by Creation Station.
Chris Hurdman, Secretary of the Thame Market Traders Co-operative
Thame Market traders’ spokesman, Chris Hurdman, told Thame.Net: “We’ve had a wonderful month of “Love your local market “ events. There’s has been a real buzz around the market and I’ve had great comments from the public who have appreciated all the effort the market traders, Thame Town Council and the Farmers Market have put into the event. I have to thank the town council for both the support and pulling out all the stops in helping us making ‘Love your Local Market’ month a great one, and all the families and visitors who came along to support us.”
MORE PICTURES on Thame Market Traders facebook page HERE
SOMETHING a little different will be featured at the next edition of Thame’s First Thursday Music Club on June 7, at The Stables behind the James Figg pub. The Boodlum Band, as seen most recently at Music In the Park in Thame, with their quirky style of musical chaos will be appearing.
Describing themselves as the ‘oldest boy band in the business’ gives you the idea of their zany humour. But be assured these highly talented musicians provide top quality music generously laced with laughter all the way. The Boodlum Band will be on stage around 9.30pm.
As always, FTMC promises an eclectic night of music and, in addition to the Boodlums, other acts including Mikes group Therapy, Eliie Ruddock, Bluejay, Steve Liddell and Mojo are already booked to appear.
The First Thursday Music Club still offers the opportunity for artists to play live in front of a warm and appreciative audience, maintaining 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!
THE provision of a bus stop opposite the Health Centre in East Street, Thame, has been delayed, following a complaint from a near-by house-holder.
280 buses in Park Street. Thame. Image courtesy of Poppy Gunn
The planned bus stop is part of servicing the recent new routing of the Arriva 280 and X8 between Thame Park and the town centre, launched in January 2018.
In other travel news, after representations by Thame Town Council and the East Thame Residents Association, the Kingsey Road roundabout in Thame, is to be fitted with reflective lights, in an attempt to improve safety there.
Two years ago, in the space of just a few weeks, there were four accidents at the roundabout, including one where a driver suffered a heart-attack and drove his vehicle straight through a brick wall into the garden and on into the wall of a house whose rear garden faces the spot.
The scene of one of the four crashes at the Kingsey Road roundabout, Thame
How will do you know what Thame has to offer residents and visitors?
A recent Customer Survey carried out by Thame’s Market Town Co-ordinator, Becky Reid, showed that there was a need to improve publicity of what the town had to offer as many people did not seem to know. So, here goes! (There follows a short plug for the wide range of information available on the the Thame.net website, in addition to local news)
If there’s anything else that you would like Thame.Net to include that you think would be useful for both residents and visitors, do email: editor@thame.net with your suggestions. Also, it’s difficult to keep information current in an ever changing and expanding town like Thame, so please do let us know if you spot anything that needs updating, adding or removing.
THAME Swimming Club has held its first ever Junior Development Meet. Young swimmers – 126 of them – aged between 8 – 12 years-old, attended from five clubs – Thame, Witney, Bicester, Newport Pagnell and Didcot.
The meet consisted of five events, a 50m freestyle, a 50m Backstroke, a 50m Breaststroke, a 50m Butterfly and a 100m Individual Medley, accumulating in nearly 500 individual entries.
Club spokesperson, Will Hard, explained: “The meet was designed to give the younger swimmers a chance to compete against swimmers from other clubs and give them valuable experience for the future. There were many impressive swims with nearly all the swimmers achieving a least one (if not several) personal best times.
“Thame Swimming Club would like to thank all those who made this event possible including all the Volunteers and Officials who gave up their valuable time, Thame Leisure Centre for hosting the event and Sundance Pools the Club’s sponsor. We’re already looking forward to planning our next event.”
A disappointing day for Thame CC first team – THAME 1st XI travelled to High Wycombe on Saturday, May 19. Fielding first, Thame found the going tough, as young Wycombe opener Edmund Casterton compiled a fine hundred. Despite struggling to make breakthroughs, Thame worked hard to stay in the game and kept the hosts to 266-4. In reply, the fragility of Thame’s top-order was again exposed. James Adams again showed glimpses of his talent whilst top scoring with 28 but, when he ran out of partners, Thame were still well short on 126 all out. Thame look to bounce back this Saturday, at home, against Slough.
Matt Furness
Thame seconds make it three-from-three – THAME 2nd XI welcomed Long Marston to Church Meadow and, batting first, got off to a quick start through Richard Carr (53). A classy knock from skipper Matt Furness (144*) then anchored Thame’s innings with great support from Dave Saunders (85, retired hurt) and Jack Aston (29*). This left Thame firmly in the driving seat with 357 runs for only 2 wickets from their 50 overs. Needing over 7 runs per over, Long Marston started quickly and a knock of 152 from Hamish Sim kept a chance of victory alive. Regular wickets from Matt Ridgway (2-69), Dan Patey (3-42) and George Patey (3-50) meant that Long Marston were always just behind the rate required however and Thame secured the win by bowling them out for 317, putting them at the top of Division Foue. They seek their fourth consecutive win away at newcomers Charlbury this Saturday.
Third XI get their season back on track with a ten-wicket win – FOLLOWING the frustration of being halted by the rain on May 12, Thame thirds went to Bledlow Ridge on Saturday May 19, in confident mood. With Tomlin (7-2-15-2) and Nick Humphries (11-2-26-2) squeezing the top order, Bledlow Ridge looked unlikely to reach 100 but H. Ahmed then chanced his arm and cut loose for 37 quick runs. It was left to Ben Warwick (10.4-4-24-4) and Ian McStay (5-1-12-1) to restore order and dismiss the hosts for 114 in the 37th over. After tea, Thame 3rds set off at a canter, with Christian Warwick leading the way, supported by Andy Jinman, Thame had reached 73-0 in just 10 overs. Warwick soon reached the half-century and they finished at 115-0, from 16.4 overs, with 66 and 39 respectively.
Thame fourth XI frustrated by Minster Lovell thirds forfeiting the game – THE fourths picked up 25 points after Minster Lovell thirds forfeited the game. They were due to travel to Bicester & North Oxford last Saturday, May 26.
Women’s team win against Cookham – their first win in a hardball friendly! THAME Women faced Cookham Dean in a friendly and winning the toss, batted first. Thame rallied after an early setback, through Bridget Cooper (34) and Sarah Sanderson (28). Cookham bowled well but Mel White’s superb 35 with Sally Surman (19*) and Jess Clarke (8*) brought Thame up to 176. When Cookham batted, Sanderson (3-24) made the perfect start, taking two wickets off her first two balls of the innings! Several good partnerships meant Cookham’s runs were building, before Lina Budde-Manning’s 2-22 pegged them back. Smart death bowling from Claire Morris (1-14) and Sally Surman, restricted Cookham to 161-7, as Thame won by 15 runs.
