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  • Bring your carer along to the Forget Me Knot Café

    IN case you haven’t yet heard about the wonderful Forget Me Knot Café, it is a Monday morning café to provide information, peer support and fun activities aimed at helping with co-ordination, brain stimulation, and general health and wellbeing for people suffering with dementia, mental health issues, old age or isolation.

     

    Co-ordinator, Michele Pethers says: “Everybody is welcome – come along with your carer, we would love to meet you! We meet twice monthly 10.30 – 12.30pm at the Chinnor Village Centre.  You will be welcomed with a cup of tea and biscuit. We start with fun seated exercises, followed by our visiting expert. At the end of the session, we play parachute games, juggling, throwing balls, flat football, floor netball, finishing the session with a poem, lyrical or a reading.”

    PROGRAMME OF EVENTS 2018

    19 Feb      Visiting Museum Hands on Heritage
    19 March  Music Dance Song Heddi – Kiddledivy
    16 April     Spring Tea Dance Ian Engish and Co
    30 April    Music & Comedy Adrian Broadway
    14 May      Music & Entertainment Jinglers Band
    11 June     Folk Dancing & Singing Black Dog Band
    25 June    Singing and Guitars Julia Hollander and Roddie
    9 July       Singing and Dance Village Voices
    23 July     Music and Singing Banjovi Revival
    06 Aug     Music and Song Doroth Howlett – Music for Health
    20 Aug     Singing & Guitar Andrea Yates
    03 Sept    Music and Singing Chiltern Songbirds
    17 Sept     Music Therapy Ellie Ruddock ChilternMusicTherapy
    01 Oct      Music Singing Black Dog Band
    15 Oct      Drumming Fun African Marimbas
    29 Oct     Autumn Tea Dance Ian English & Co
    12 Nov     Music Therapy Frances Vovillo ChilternMusicTherapy
    26 Nov    Warm up to Xmas Heddi – Kiddledivy
    10 Dec     Christmas Carols Mill Lane School Choir

    For further information contact Michele on 01844 353154/07779732097 or at info@holisticmassageuk.co.uk or Val on 01844 352254 or at valerie.edwards2053@btinternet.com And follow on the facebook page:  www.facebook.com/forgetmeknotcafe

  • Thame to host Para Swimming event

    THAME & District Lions Club (CIO) have announced the first Thame Para-Swimming Event to be held at Thame Leisure Centre on Saturday, March 24, 2018.

    The event’s activities are being organised and run on Thame Lions’ behalf by Thame Swimming Club, in association with Swim England Para-Swimming and hosted by Thame Leisure Centre.

    This event aims to provide swimmers with a Physical, Visual, Hearing and Intellectual (low IQ), a taster of para-swimming with the opportunity to race over a short distance.

    Free Entry

    The normal £5 Entry Fee has been waived for the 2018 Thame Para-Swimming Event , but The Lions will gratefully receive donations on the night to the Thame & District Lions Club (CIO), should participants wish to do so!

    Entry form and full details on the website: https://thameanddistrictlions.org.uk/2018-thame-para-swimming-event/

  • ‘Sunday Night Fever’ at Music in the Park

    ONE of the top Bee Gees tribute acts is to headline this year’s Music In The Park, in Thame, on Sunday, May 6, 2018.

    The Bootleg Bee Gees

    So, Guys, get your white suits and gold chains ready; gals, get your chiffon party dresses out, because the headline act at this year’s Music in the Park are top Bee Gees tribute act, the Bootleg Bee Gees. This band has played throughout Europe for the past fifteen years, performing in theatres, festivals, clubs and hotels, always bringing the house down with their faithful recreations of all those famous Bee Gees tunes.

    All the greatest hits are featured; from the dance sounds of Saturday Night Fever to sixties classics like Massachusetts and Words and all those Bee Gee songs made famous by other artists such as Chain Reaction (Diana Ross), Islands in the Stream (Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton), Tragedy (Steps), How Deep is Your Love (Take That) and Grease (Frankie Valli).

    Chris Fram, Chair of the Music in the Park organising committee, said: “Having a Bee Gees tribute act will be particularly poignant for the people of Thame considering the town’s long association with Bee Gee, Robin Gibb, who lived here from 1984 till his death in 2012.”

    Advance tickets for Music In the Park 2018, are now available online at: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/427258. Ticket costa: Family (two adults and three children) £25; Adult £10; Concessions £7 (Plus 10% booking fee)

    To keep up-to-date with news of this year’s Music in the Park event, visit the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MusicInTheParkThame or the website www.musicinthepark.org.uk

  • Thame’s news in brief

    Future Electric Charging Points in Thame High Street? – THAME Town Council has been looking at details of a Government announcement about funding to provide electric charging points on High Streets. However, it has become apparent that getting the funding isn’t as straightforward, as a lot of changes would have to be made to the layout of parking bays, which would need to be carried out with Oxfordshire County Council as the Highways authority, and with the district council; a possible facility to be included in a future ‘Green Plan’ being worked on by the Thame Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee.

    Currently, the nearest charging point for electric vehicles is at Haddenham and Thame Parkway Station.

    Cricket Club Neighbour’s Meeting – NEIGHBOURS, businesses and community groups whose properties adjoin Thame cricket club are being invited to attend a meeting at The Barns Centre, for an update on how work on the new pavillion and facilities there is progressing. Representatives from the project management team, the construction company, the cricket club and the town council will be in attendance on Tuesday, February 13, from 4pm-5pm, to answer and questions.

    Do you have a burning question for the Police? -REPRESENTATIVES from Thames Valley Police will be attending a full, Thame Town Council meeting at 6:30pm on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, to give an update on policing in Thame. Questions will be allowed by both by Councillors and anyone else who attends.

    Thame’s Kebab Van needs your vote again! – For the second year running, Atalay’s Kebab Van has been shortlisted in the ‘Kebab Van of the Year’ category at the sixth British Kebab Awards. Your vote is needed to help Thame’s Kebab Van retain it’s crown as the best Kebab Van in Britain! Go to the facebook page and vote now! https://www.facebook.com/Atalayskebabsthame/

    Prayer Week in the town centre – THE seven churches in Thame have united to organise a Prayer Week in the town, to run from 13-20 May, 2018. Planning permission for a yellow portocabin-type accommodation unit to be sited in Montesson Square for people to use for prayer throughout the week has been submitted to the District Council.

  • Cricket for all !

    DESPITE the frosty February temperatures outside, the preparation for the 2018 cricket season got off to an enthusiastic start for Thame Cricket Club, last Sunday, February 4, in the relative warmth of Lord Williams’s Lower School gym.

    Over 30 people, including eight from the Women’s squad and several juniors, started the session keen to dust off the winter cobwebs and to prepare for what promises to be an exciting season for the club.

    The reasons for that excitement and anticipation are many and varied:-

    – a brand new clubhouse is now under construction
    – the 1st XI have reached the peak of club cricket in the region, following last year’s promotion to Division 1 of the Home Counties Premier League
    – the addition of a 4th XI on Saturdays will allow the club to satisfy all the latent demand for cricket in the town
    – the Women’s section continues to grow, with both softball tournaments and hardball matches planned
    – plus the revival of the Under-15 team, after one year’s absence, to add to the successful junior teams at U9, U11 and U13 from last year

    The club’s indoor nets will continue every Sunday until April 15, with the exception of Easter Day. All new players are welcome – contact Mike on higgzee@hotmail.co.uk or 07817-808573, or check out the club’s website for full details: http://www.thamecricket.org.uk/

  • Today’s Thame news digest

    Outdoor Cinema coming to Elms Park – AN Outdoor Cinema, featuring a huge, 20′ x 11′ inflatable screen, bar and food stalls, is to be held in the summer, running for three nights on August 17, 18 and 19. Tickets will be going on sale soon, via the website, price £14 for adults, and £8 for children. Elms Park will be closed to members of the public from 5pm until 1.30am each evening.

    A proportion of the money raised will go to supporting local charities, including the Red Kite Family Centre.

    Town Fairs – A meeting is to be held on February 21, between Thame Town Council and The Showmen’s Guild, to discuss agreeing a three-year contract so that the fairs can go ahead in September and October 2018. Last year, 2017, the September was cancelled because no satisfactory agreement could be reached between the two parties.

    Remembrance Day 2018 on the Big Screen – THIS year’s Remembrance Sunday event in Thame will be extra special, as 2018 marks 100 years since the end of the First World War. To mark this anniversary, Thame Town Council, working with with the Thame Remembers project, are planning to video the event and project it onto a large screen, and to have the names of Thame’s WW1 dead scrolling across the screen thoughout.

    Towersey Festival – Full Line-up and programme out now! – Follow the LINK – Headlining, * * ‘The Proclaimers’ * *

    Chance to audition for Thame Players’ next production – GO along to the Players Theatre in Nelson Street, Thame, on February 19 and 21, at 7.45pm, when auditions are being held for Comedy of Errors, by William Shakespeare. The play will be performed on July 10 – 14, at the Players Theatre. Every is welcome. Just turn up on either or both evenings.

    To find out more about the script and the parts, click on the following links;  The first is to see the cast list and the second is to see the script

    New sponsor for Thame Swimming Club – THAME Swimming Club has a new sponsor for 2018. This new deal with Sundance Pools UK Ltd, of Aylesbury, was celebrated last week at the swimming club’s annual awards evening.

    Will Hard, Communications Manager of Thame Swimming Club, said: “Thame Swimming Club is delighted to announce a new sponsorship deal with Sundance Pools of Aylesbury. Sundance’s generous investment into Thame Swimming Club underpins their commitment to the local community, and will significantly contribute towards the ongoing development of our club.”

    Don’t judge a book by it’s cover – THAT’S the intriguing tag line for for The Oxford Belfry’s event, when it mans the Thame Community Stall at Thame Market on Tuesday, February 13, in aid of the NSPCC. They will also be selling cakes and holding a Bottle tombola.

     

  • Thame Carnival 2018 will celebrate ‘Countryside’

    PLANS are well underway for this year’s Thame Carnival, to be held on June 9, with a theme for 2018 of ‘Countryside’. The organisers, 21st Century Thame, are really keen for there to be more floats this year, so all local clubs, groups, organisations and businesses in and around the town are being encouraged to start thinking about how they can best be represented in this fun and colourful annual event for the whole family.

    Floats

    The Carnival team, being co-ordinated once again by Sue Martin Downhill, are starting to organise the Parade through Thame Town Centre and the Fete that follows on Southern Road Recreation Ground. Floats don’t need vast numbers of people on the day, they need plenty of people leading up to the event to help build something that will WOW the crowds!

    A float from the carnival in Thame’s twin town, Montesson, back in September, 2017. Image: Michel Cojean

    “We are hoping to arrange a Float building workshop where the ‘Genius of John Hampden Primary School’ imparts some of his wisdom on how to make a start on an amazing float creation,” said Sue. People interested in being involved in a workshop can contact the planning team via the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thamecarnival

    To book a float or stall go to http://thamecarnival.co.uk/product-category/parade/ where you can pay online. Also, anyone who would like to book advertising in the programme, can do this via the website too HERE

    Stalls

    As ever, Sue and her merry band will be looking for a good variety of stalls, particularly involving activities for children, as well as a good selection of food and drink. There are six fee options for a stall : Extra large commercial, 6m x 6m commercial, 4m x 4m commercial, 6m x 6m community, 4m x 4x community and 25% profit share. Bookings can be made HERE

    The proceeds of this year’s Carnival will go to the PTFAs of Lord Williams’s School, John Hampden Primary, Barley Hill Primary and St Joseph’s Primary Schools.

    ALL the details are the website: https://thamecarnival.co.uk/

  • Chinnor clinch victory in a close encounter in Kent

    THIS promised to be a cracking game with Chinnor reeling from last week’s defeat to top of the table Cinderford, and with Tonbridge Juddians bouyant on a six game winning streak. However, wet and muddy conditions limited the impact of both teams’ attacks.

    Tonbridge set off with a flying start, charging at Chinnor from the kick off, then intercepting a flick pass, allowed their left wing, Watson, to sprint to the corner to score an unconverted try in the first minute.

    Chinnor slowly recovered and began counter attacking. The Chinnor forwards adapted to the adverse conditions with driving and rolling mauls, sucking in the opposition. After six phases of possession they passed the ball wide to winger Phil Chesters, who rounded the TJ’s defence to score out wide. Johnny Bentley converted to give Chinnor a 7 – 5 point lead after 15 minutes.

    A period of indiscipline by Chinnor cost them dearly as skipper Barnes was given a yellow card for talking back to the referee. Then, just before half time, full back Holland was sin binned for an alleged deliberate knock on. Tonbridge’s fly half converted the resulting penalty to give them an 8 – 7 point lead at the interval.

    Just after half time Chinnor prop, Cano, was given a third Yellow card for collapsing a scrum, reducing Chinnor to 13 players who nevertheless, defended so well. However, the constant pressure from Tonbridge told in the end when, following several forward drives, they attacked on the blind side enabling flanker Varney to score in the corner. The try was unconverted but gave Tonbridge a 13 – 7 point lead.

    With Chinnor back to their full 15 players, they began to attack the Tonbridge half. As the pitch turned into a mud bath, both the Chinnor half backs, Goodfellow and Bentley, kicked deep into the Tonbridge half to gain territorial advantage. The last 10 minutes saw a resurgent Chinnor drive forcefully into the Tonbridge 22 metre area. From a five metre scrum, scrum half Greg Goodfellow did his trade mark, “dummy, dart and dive” to score under the posts with Bentley adding the conversion.

    Tonbridge tried to get back into the game but Chinnor’s defence stood resolute for the last five minutes to earn a well-deserved but nail biting 14 – 13 point victory to maintain their second place, play off position in the league.

    Next week Chinnor face bottom of the table Broadstreet at home.

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Thame For Europe raises it’s voice!

    SHOPPERS going about their business in Thame on Saturday afternoon, February 3, were stopped in their tracks by the sound of a lone trumpeter, playing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, and even more amazed to see several groups of people waving European and Union flags, emerge from different directions to join him and sing the European anthem.

     

    The event was a ‘flash mob’ organised by ‘Thame for Europe’, a group that does not believe that the debate about our EU membership is over. The event took place outside Thame Town Hall where about 50 people from areas including London, Milton Keynes, Oxford and High Wycombe joined in despite a very cold, wet day.

    “As we were gathering, we were given supportive ‘honks’ from passing cars – and one loud motorbike deliberately revving – in protest we assume!” said a Spokesperson for Thame for Europe.

    The event certainly sparked a lot of discussion on local social media, with comments and opinions traded from both sypathetic Remainers and Brexiteers – not all of them in language suitable for publishing!

    After the singing, the group gave out ‘It’s not a done deal’ leaflets to passers-by to encourage those unhappy about Brexit to make their position clear to their MPs and to join protests to make their voices heard.

    “Details of the event were sent to many influential contacts from both sides of the EU debate to emphasise the growing support for remaining in the EU and the increasing realization of the negative impact of Brexit on our country,” added the Spokesperson.

    Anti-Brexit flash mobs have been happening all over the country, including Canterbury, Newcastle, Brighton and London. A large scale event is expected in Manchester on February 10, 2018.

  • Coming soon: Thame’s first ‘Creative Hub’

    Delphine Art in Thame, has changed hands after the previous owner, Delphine Beecham, decided to retire after 30 years. (more…)