Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

Outshone today – but Thame’s star high street will continue to glisten!

AFTER winning ‘Rising Star’ status in last year’s Great British High Street Awards, Thame’s star has shone even more brightly since becoming a finalist in it’s category in this year’s competition.

Helen Johns (left) & sonja Francis collected Thame’s Finalist’s certificate on behalf of the town

Despite losing to a very worthy Champion, Hebden Bridge in this afternoon’s glittering awards ceremony, Thame’s entry was highly praised by the judges for it’s collaboration between the town and district councils, its businesses and the community at large, and for it’s innovative use of the prize money from last year’s award, to promote the town’s Midsomer Murders connection to attract visitors.

In reply to a tweet by @Thame4business, who spear-headed Thame’s social media campaign on behalf of 21st Century Thame and Thame’s entry, @theGBHighSt tweeted: “In our view every finalist is a winner! 900+ applications and you made top 3 in category!”

Thame’s achievement

Summing up Thame’s achievement on facebook, Thame business woman, Kathryn Lock, who runs The Practice therapy centre, commented: “All the hard work and publicity might not have resulted in a ‘win’ but it certainly raised the profile of Thame and resulted in a stronger and more positive community.”

The winner

Champion Small Market Town, Hebden Bridge received £5,000 and presented with a trophy by High Streets Minister, Andrew Percy, at the ceremony at Lancaster House in London earlier today (December 12). In addition to winning their category, Hebden Bridge was awarded a special new prize of People’s Choice for receiving a record breaking 40,000 votes – the most ever cast for a place in the history of the competition.

‘Enthusiasm and ambition’

The three shortlisted ‘small market town’ high streets, including Thame’s, were visited by judges from Holland & Barrett and The Department for Communities and Local Government, whose marks accounted for 50 per cent of the overall score.

Andy Torrance, Chief Operating Officer at Holland & Barrett said: “What struck me in this category was the enthusiasm of the individuals and businesses who make these small towns the cultural and business hubs they are.

“They may be small, but they have big ambitions, and coming from a business which began in Nuneaton but is now present on high streets up and down the country, we know how important it is to think big when it comes to your goals.

“Hebden Bridge is a worthy winner, and one with a lot to teach the rest of us about the importance of enthusiasm and innovation within the community.”

Thame’s MP, John Howell did not attend today’s event, but sent the following message: “I’m away on business this week but looked out for the final results today. I was so sorry to see that you were pipped to the post by Hebden Bridge.

“I’m sure you are all disappointed after so much effort but I hope you will also be pleased with getting to the final. That in itself was a great achievement and I am sure that all the fantastic work will not go unrewarded in terms of value added to the town and community.

“One of the things I took from the day with the judges was the huge sense of working together that existed amongst you all. This can’t be quantified but makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts. I am sure this will reap its own reward.

“Please pass on my commiserations on the final result to all but above all I hope that you will still be able to celebrate what you have achieved together.”

You can watch a recording of the live Periscope streaming of the event HERE

** The full list of winners:

Overall winner ‘Champion of Champions, was Blackburn.

City Location Winner – The Cathedral Quarter, Derby
Runners up – Castle Arcade District, Norwich and Broadmead, Bristol
Town Centre Winner – Blackburn
Runners up – Hemel Hempstead and Banbury, Oxfordshire
Large Market Town Winner – Bridgnorth
Runners up – Hinckley and Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Small Market Town Winner – Hebden Bridge
Runners up – Chipping Norton and Thame, Oxfordshire
Coastal Community Winner – Falmouth
Runners up – Sea View Street, Cleethorpes and Prestatyn, Wales
Local Centre Winner – Hoole, Chester
Runners up – Claygate, Surrey and The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells
Village Winner – Pateley Bridge
Runners up – Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria and Langport, Somerset
London Winner – Myddelton Road, Haringey
Runners up – Romford and Waterloo
Rising Star Winner – Stockton
Runners up – Leominster and Dornoch, Scottish Highlands

The competition

The Great British High Street competition is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and sponsored by British Land, the Post Office, Holland and Barrett, Boots UK, Google UK, Marks & Spencer, Wilko, Revo and Ellandi.

The Google Digital Garage on Tour is a workshop which includes sessions for businesses on finding and keeping customers online and the chance to have one-to-one consultations with Google specialists to chat through their businesses digital needs.

The overall winner received £10,000; category winners received £5,000 and runners up received £500 each.

The final result across all categories followed an online public vote and expert judges’ assessments, each counting for 50 per cent.

13/12/2016
Thame market trader still proud despite award disappointment

THAME Market Trader, Chris Hurdman, has spoken about the ‘great honour’ he felt to be part of a trio of finalists in this afternoon’s Great British High Street Awards ceremony in London.

Chris Hurdman, in the opulent surroundings of Lancaster House in London, with his Finalist’s certificate

Although disappointed not to be the overall eventual winner in his category, Market Retailer Champion, Chris said afterwards: ” I was of course absolutely gutted to not have won the Market Champion award. I have to take solace from being both nominated by the people of Thame and being the only market trader at the awards. It was a great honour to represent market trading and I will carry on working with the community to help keep Thame’s market and high street one of the finest in the country.”

But Chris, known locally for his cheerfulness and ‘can-do’ attitude, is not a man to stay down for long, adding later: “I must admit to feeling a little deflated. Never mind; the normal Chris will be back in play (at Thame’s Tuesday market) at 05:30 tomorrow morning!”

The Great British High Street judges awarded Nicola Martin, Tameside Markets, with the Market Retail Champion Award, and Beverley Milner-Simonds, of Burnham on Sea was Chris Hurdman’s fellow runner-up.

A full list of the Great British High Street winners, in all categories can be found HERE

12/12/2016
Family’s tribute to Barnaby

THE family of four-year-old Barnaby Cork, who was fatally injured in a collison with a car in Thame on Saturday (December 10), have issued the following statement:

“We’re truly devastated at the loss of our precious Barnaby and we’re absolutely heartbroken that he’s gone to heaven before he was ready.

“There’s no words that can even begin to describe the sadness we’re experiencing now that Barnaby isn’t with us. He was our world.

“We are so very, very lucky to have such close and strong family as well as such great friends and neighbours and your support means everything to us.

“We know that the people of Thame have us in their thoughts and prayers and this gives us strength when we need it the most.

“We would like to thank you all for your support and for respecting our privacy at this time.”

Barnaby died after colliding with a car in the car park of Thame Leisure Centre, despite the efforts of the emergency services.

12/12/2016
Unidentified pedestrian killed on the M40

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to come forward after a fatal collision on the M40, in which an unidentified white man, believed to be in his 20s, was killed.

Police officers were called at 8pm yesterday evening (10/12) to a report that multiple vehicles had collided with a pedestrian on the M40 northbound between High Wycombe and Loudwater.

Investigating officer Sgt Dominic Mahon of Roads policing based at Amersham police station said: “We would like to appeal to anyone who was driving on either the north or southbound carriageways of the M40 between Junctions six and two at around 8pm to contact police.

“We are still in the process of identifying the victim. He is a white man, believed to be Polish, aged approximately in his twenties. He was wearing a black jacket, dark jeans and white canvas trainers.

“Anyone who recognises the victim from this description or who has information about this incident is asked to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1467 (10/12).

“If you don’t want to speak directly to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers (opens new window) anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”

11/12/2016
Police search for witnesses to fatal injury collision in Thame

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses in connection with the tragic death of a four-year-old child in Thame on Saturday (10/12).

The child, a pedestrian, was involved in a collision with a car at around 10.25 am yesterday, outside Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame. The driver stopped at the scene.

Police officers and other emergency services attended the scene but the child sadly died on the way to hospital. His next of kin has been informed.

Senior Investigating officer Sgt Jack Hawkins of Roads Policing based at Abingdon police station, said: “We are investigating the fatal collision and appealing for witnesses. Please can anyone with information which could assist enquiries contact police.

“The family of the deceased are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers at this very difficult time.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers (opens new window) anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

11/12/2016
‘Shop Local First’ at Christmas

STILL not started your Christmas shopping Yet? Panic not! For here in Thame we have one of the top three, smaller market town high streets in the whole of Great Britain – and that’s official! Particularly unique is the number of wonderful, independently run shops in our high street; shops where good old-fashioned personal service and knowledge about the providence of products is paramount – and there’s loads of FREE parking!

SHOPPING for Christmas, whilst a pleasure for some, is for others, a last minute dash over to the nearest big town’s shopping centre or wandering fruitlessly around a huge shopping Mall among the present-hunting hoards squeezed in after work; or scouring the internet, only to discover that the ‘very thing’ for your favourite person is sold out or can’t be delivered in time for Christmas. Well, help is at hand – right here on our own doorstep, where we are lucky to have so many interesting and individual shops stocked with unusual and special seasonal gifts to suit everyone’s pocket.

Planning and parking

So, make your list of friends and relatives over a nice cup of tea or coffee (or a glass of something stronger), divide it by the number of free shopping days you have left between now and Christmas and shop for just two or three each day in your lunch hour perhaps, or at the weekend – many more shops are opening on Sundays this year in the run up to Christmas. Alternatively, if you’re the sort of person who likes to do your Christmas shopping all in one manic shopping day, Thame is compact enough to walk from shop to shop, find what you’re looking for and take time out in the middle at one of the town’s many hostelries for a spot of lunch and to rest the tired feet. (See https://www.thame.net/Eating.asp)

Don’t forget to park in the Long Stay car park at the Cattlemarket. There are three hours of free parking in the Market Place, if you are a very organised shopper and work out exactly where you are going beforehand – and in the run up to Christmas, there is FREE parking in Thame all day on Saturdays on December in both the Cattlemarket and the Southern Road car park behind the Co-op. (LINK TO SHOPPING GUIDE

Help begins here

To help you find just the right present for just about anyone, be it the man who has everything, a teenage boy or girl, mum and dad, or a best friend of either sex, we’ve combed the shops of Thame, and in consultation with the proprietors, have come up with, what we think, are a few useful suggestions to get you started.

We begin our Yuletide trail in Buttermarket, Thame, where just beyond the new restaurant that has slotted so easily into what was the Sports Shop, is the beautiful and unique, little emporium of make-up, perfumes and body-pampering lovliness, Powder, run by Karen Moore. Karen suggests the following ideas for starters but really, pop in and explore even more options – for men too:

Noble Isle, Whisky & Water Reed Diffuser £39.00

What about a reed diffuser that gives off a rich aroma redolent of the finest oak-aged single malt, with warm vanilla and cedarwood? “The Noble Isle, Whisky & Water Reed Diffuser is an ideal present for the man with everything,” suggests Karen.

‘Christmas Jumper’ Popbands – £8

Very popular among those with longer hair that needs tying back for the gym, for running or for a neater look, are Popbands in a variety of colours and patterns, the perfect hair accessory this Christmas, that Karen says: “…look cute on the hair and on the wrist and are great for children, teens and adults.”

Overlum Bath Oil RRP £36.95

Olverum is a pine based bath oil, made with plant extracts that is the most luxurious way to unwind, sooth aching muscles, relieve stress, and promote a restorative sleep that can help revive a tired immune system. “A unisex product, Olverum is great for those who have been pounding the streets or hitting the keyboard doing their Christmas shopping and need something to help relax,” advises Karen. Discover more about Olverum HERE

Cosy up with some Christmas fayre

Almost opposite Powder, is one of Thame’s newest independent retailers, THE DELI AT NO.5, where Joe Bastan and Hannah Leah Jones are running what is their very first business, a delicatessen and homeware shop bringing together Great British products they’ve sourced from around the country from small producers, including beer from a local brewery. “Our focus is on supporting other small businesses that offer high quality products.” explains Joe.

Tweedmill Throws – £45

As well as Christmas hampers and gift tokens, check out the beautiful, soft, 150cm x 183cm, Tweedmill Throws – handmade in Scotland of very good quality Pure New Wool. Ideal for those ‘Hygge‘ times so beloved of the Danes and spreading fast in this cold, damp country of our’s.

Cheese Lovers Chutneys – £10

Or, how about Cheese Lovers Chutneys in a jute bag? All the chutneys are made by hand in the Yorkshire Dales by Raydale Preserves. Everything is stirred, poured and packed by hand. “There’s a great chutney to go with every good cheese,” says Hannah.

Tarquins Gin and Two Glasses Gift Set – £50

Christmas is a time for bringing out the special booze. For the Gin connoisseurs in your circle, step into The Deli at No.5 and find Tarquins Gin and Two Glasses Gift Set, produced by Southwestern Distillery in Cornwall – perfect -and with an extra glass so that the 70cl bottle of gin can be shared!

Budding musician in the family?

One of Thame guitar teacher, Kevin Lucas’s gift vouchers could well set your son, daughter, granddaughter or grandson well on their way to becoming an accomplished musician or just able to play for pleasure – Kev has several older pupils returning to playing the guitar well after leaving their teenage years behind!

Call Lucas Guitar School on Kev’s palendromic phone number, 01844 21712, to discuss how many lessons you would like to give, and he will arrange a gift token for you.

Finally

It’s worth remembering that: “Christmas should be a time of community spirit and local shops make up a large part of this community. But the power of the big supermarkets will continue to squeeze small suppliers and shops, so within a few Christmases, we could be left with little choice of where to do our shopping. By supporting your local shops you can really help to keep Thame thriving.

“And if you walk (or cycle) to the shops and choose locally sourced food you’ll be making a much better environmental choice too.” Quote: Friends of the Earth

10/12/2016
Police appeal after quad bike theft

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a burglary non-dwelling in Chinnor.

Between 6pm and 6.30pm yesterday (7/12) unknown offenders broke into a garage on the road running through Henton, Chinnor, and stole a child’s electric quad bike.

Anyone who may have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in these areas, or have any information relating to this incident, is asked to call the Police via the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.

Alternatively, if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online by visiting www.crimestoppers-org.uk. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

08/12/2016
The ‘magic of making music’ movie – Sing Street

THE next film being screened by Thame Cinema 4 All, is Sing Street, Directed by John Carney, on Sunday, December 18, at The Players Theatre in Nelson Street, Thame.

Sing street is a 12A certificate and stars Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jack Reynor, Kelly Thornton, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen and Ben Carolan. John Carney – director of Once and Begin Again – returns to the genre that has become his hallmark: films about the magic of making music. And this is perhaps his most enjoyable and most heart-warming film so far.

Set in early 1980s Dublin, it is the story of 15-year-old Conor and his attempts to put together a cutting-edge new romantic rock band from an unlikely assembly of misfits and loners like himself, in part to impress the beautiful but troubled aspiring model, Raphina. Conor’s parents are splitting up, and family finances mean that he has to move schools from the Jesuits to the Christian Brothers – much cheaper but also much more brutal.

Seeking escape, self-expression and redemption in pop music, he finds inspiration in Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jam, and other gems from the record collection of his stoner older brother, constantly re-styling his looks, his hair and his wardrobe to mimic the musical icon du jour. There are echoes of multiple other coming of age movies: the lads’ attempt to recreate a glossy pop video are reminiscent of Son of Rambow and it shares the sentiment and exuberance of School of Rock. And, of course, The Commitments – the film makes several knowing references to that earlier story of working class Dubliners and musical escapism (including the casting of Conor’s mum).

Book on line HERE

But Sing Street stands very successfully on its own two feet – a funny, sad, joyous, nostalgic fairytale, with a great sound track. Watch the trailer HERE

OTHER Up-coming films:

Sat Jan 7 Burn Burn Burn

An independent British comedy about two young women on a road trip to scatter the ashes of a close friend, with a stellar cast including Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith in Downton Abbey), Alison Steadman, Jane Asher, Nigel Planer, Sally Phillips and even Matthew Kelly!. The producer of the film grew up near Thame and he is coming along and will stay for a Q&A after the movie. This will be a rare chance to see the film in the cinema – it had a very limited cinema release. More details to follow.

Sun Jan 15 I Daniel Blake

Sat Jan 21 The Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Fri Jan 27 Julieta

Fri Feb 3 Bridget Jones’s Baby (charity screening for the Mayor)

Sun Feb 5 Eight Days a Week

Sat Feb 11 Queen of Katwe

07/12/2016
Small Businesses, Big Winners!

SMALL businesses, young entrepreneurs and retailers alike were big winners from Small Business Saturday, held in Thame on Saturday, December 3.

Samantha Bond (left), Keith Slater and Helen Johns

Samantha Bond, the Downton Abbey actress, came to Thame to judge and present the prizes for the best window displays in the Small Business Saturday Christmas window display competition. From 18 entries submitted, Samantha and retail expert, Keith Slater, chose the three winners.

The Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, revealed the winners at the end of a busy day, packed with workshops and one-to-one advice sessions, to celebrate Small Business Saturday in Thame, at Christchurch in the Upper High Street. The winner’s trophy and a case of prosecco went to Deli No 5, in Buttermarket, Thame. The second prize of a bottle of prosecco went to Bizzie Lizzie, the flower shop in Upper High Street, and the third prize, also a bottle of prosecco to Shaw Trust, in the High Street. These two will also receive marketing tips from Keith Slater and the winner, Hannah from Delic No 5, will receive marketing consultancy from Keith.

Helen Johns, Mayor of Thame Linda Emery and John Howell MP

Five finalists in the SBS Young Entrepreneurs Competition pitched their business ideas, Dragon’s Den style, to a panel of expert judges chaired by Tim Luscombe of Thames Valley Business Advisers. Three winners were later announced at a packed reception at The Spread Eagle Hotel. The winners’ event began with a performance by talented young singers from Stagecoach Thame.

Tom Wylam with his winner’s trophy

The prizes, sponsored by CarmichaelUK, included a first prize of £500, a trophy, and business mentoring for 12 months which went to Thomas Wylam of Princes Risborough School for his idea CupCycle, based on recycling plastic coffee cups.

Tim Luscombe presents Amelie Mason with her trophy

The second prize went to Amelie Mason of Lord Williams’s School, for her idea, Magical Maths, based on a new maths app, and the third prize went to Philippe van Caloen of Oxford Brookes University for his idea WeCoach, aimed at helping students apply for their first job. Present were John Howell MP, the Mayor of Thame, The Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, and invited guests from among Thame businesses.

Philippe van Caloen (left) with John Howell MP

Earlier in the day, Small business owners had flocked to Christchurch to attend nine, free-to-attend workshops and one2one sessions given by business experts on subjects ranging from understanding business finance to digital marketing and how to get the right customers for your business. Attendees were also entertained by performances from Thame Pop Choir and Stagecoach Thame’s dance troupe. Small businesses were also invited to place their business cards in a prize draw to win fabulous prizes, including a cookery class at the home of Katie Ryder-Richardson, celebrated local chef and caterer, a meal for two at the Thatch, and vouchers to spend at the Book House, 2Wheels, Racquets Fitness Centre, the Cutting Rooms, Jack & Alice and others.

SBS Thame Co-ordinator, Helen Johns, said: “It was big wins all round! The Small Business Saturday organising team are grateful for the support of 21st Century Thame, our sponsors, including several local companies, Thame Town Council, and South Oxfordshire District Council, for making this highly successful event possible. We are also grateful to Thame TV for videoing the whole day. “

The sponsors of Small Business Saturday Thame 2016, were Booker Tate, Taylor Wimpey, Richardson’s Group, XT Brewing, Travelodge, ASM, DAF, K & A Scaffolding, Carmichael UK, Time For You Domestic Cleaning, The Sanderum Centre, Thame Cars, Mobalpa, MP Printers, Abbotts Office Solutions, Thame Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council.

More information on Small Business Saturday, an annual event that puts small businesses nationwide under the spotlight, can be found at https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com and on Small Business Saturday in Thame at www.smallbizthame.uk.

06/12/2016
A Christmas message from Montesson!

SEVEN of us came from Montesson to Thame for the Christmas Event on Friday, and what a welcome! After a very good journey through the Channel tunnel we arrived in Thame at 2pm, to be met by our Thame Twinning Association friends, Linda Emery, Carl, Sue, Roy, and David who had already settled our gazebo and our electrical needs.

The hungry queue waits in line for Elisabeth and crew’s delicious crêpes

We were welcomed with friendly hugs and hot teas and coffees from the Co-op coffee shop brought to us by Linda on a tray while we were unloading. We started to sell our products: wines, cheeses, jams, olive oils, ginger breads and our crêpes, along with something new, this year – the buckwheat pancake stuffed with ham and Emmental cheese. The market was slow at the beginning but became busy and crowded by the time of the beautiful Lantern Parade and the big Switch-on. And then the ambiance was really joyful and magical! It was late when we decided to stop making crêpes. We returned to our host families to warm up and have dinner.

The Montesson Christmas market crew enjoying a drink in the James Figg pub in Thame

On Saturday morning we settled again in our little market on the other side of the Town Hall facing Greyhound Walk. Friendly people stopped by while they were shopping even if it was to just have a little chat and it was nice to meet them. At some point we ran out of crêpes batter and we had to stop but it was already 2pm and we were very happy with our experience. We really needed to warm up a little so we gathered at the James Figg pub where we were joined by Linda Emery, Sonja Francis and Sue Mottram and we experienced the ambiance of the pubs in Thame: fun, talk, friendship and good drinks.

That evening we had a wonderful party at the Town Hall: homemade soups, cheeses, bread and crackers, homemade desserts and wines. We tried to sing along with the Christmas Carols, and a tombola gave us lovely prizes. Eventually, a pretty Mother Christmas, Linda, brought us presents. What a night!

Sunday was time to get back to France. Rendez-vous was at the Town Hall at 10am – just in time to encourage the “Santa Dash” fun run, and off we went. Farewell to ours friends. Happy, happy holiday season to Thame and its inhabitants.

Contributed by Elisabeth Charriere

06/12/2016