THIS week’s film to be shown by Thame Cinema 4 All, on Friday, June 9, is GRADUATION, a Romanian film, made in 2016. It’s a 15 certificate is is 125 minutes long. Graduation is directed by Cristian Mungiu and stars Adrian Titieni, Maria-Victoria Dragus, Rares Andrici, Lia Bugnar, Malina Manovici and Vlad Ivanov.
Synopsis – Romeo Aldea is a middle aged doctor with a complicated life: an ageing mother, a demanding mistress, a disinterested wife, and a daughter, Eliza, who is about to leave high school. On the eve of an important final exam – one that will decide whether or not she gets a scholarship at a British university – Eliza is assaulted by a stranger near her school.
Badly shaken and injured, her participation in the examination is under threat. Romeo is far more threatened by this than his daughter. Having left for the west and returned some years earlier, he has regrets about what might have been, and his daughter’s possible future will be his redemption as much as it is her opportunity. He has a choice to make. A man who considers himself far more principled than the society he is part of, Romeo has to decide whether to compromise those principles and engage in the kind of corruption that he normally holds in contempt. He knows people in the right places, games that can be played and strings that can be pulled to help Eliza.
Mungiu’s film, like many contemporary masterpieces of post Soviet European cinema, examines the legacies of the past: the ghosts of the old regime haunt the present such that the wide-scale corruption of the old society has translated into individual moral and spiritual corruption that people struggle to resist.
You can view trailer HERE – Tickets £5 each, are available on the door or online- Click HERE
A charity Gig and BBQ held at The Three Horsehoes pub in Towersey on May 27, raised £1,020, which is going to be split between two charities, the British Legion and the drop in Cancer centre. Tay o’Lay provided the music and Master Chef contestant, Ashley Byrne cooked the BBQ.
Mark wetter (right) & Ashley Byrne
RYCOTE Park and Gardens will be opened to the public to raise funds for Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Rycote Park opens its historic doors on Wednesday, June 7, for the first time as part of Thames Valley Air Ambulance’s Open Gardens programme. Visitors will get a rare opportunity to explore the magnificent grounds and gardens, which date back to the 16th Century, whilst helping to raise funds for the charity.
Situated on the outskirts of Thame, Rycote Park is steeped in history. Once a great Tudor mansion, it was almost completely demolished in 1807 and all that remains today is part of the south-west tower. The 14th Century Rycote Chapel, which pre-dates the house, was built for the medieval owners of the estate and has survived with many of its original medieval fittings. The Tudor mansion at Rycote was arguably the dominant country house in early modern Oxfordshire and played host to six English kings and queens, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
Kate Martin, Event Fundraising Manager for Thames Valley Air Ambulance, says: “We are extremely lucky to be able to give our supporters a rare insight and guided tour of this magnificent estate, which features for the first time in our annual Open Gardens programme. We hope this extra special event will raise lots of money for the Charity and help make this year’s scheme one of the most successful yet!”
The visit to Rycote Park will begin with an introductory talk on the estate’s history by owner Sarah Taylor, before visitors are led on a tour of the Chapel, historic grounds and gardens of Rycote, taking in the research done by Time Team, amongst others.
The morning event will run between 10.30-12.30pm at Rycote Park, Thame, OX9 2PE. Tickets are £30 and only available in advance. Visit TVAA’s website www.tvairambulance.org.uk/rycote or call 0300 999 0135
THAME Equipment Bank – volunteer manager – Thame Equipment Bank is one of the 21st Century Thame initiatives, in conjunction with Thame Town Council, and aims to provide low-cost equipment for hire to community organisations & groups, as well as private not-for-profit hire in the Thame area. They are currently looking for a Volunteer Manager to ensure the Equipment Bank is fully utilised, facilitate bookings, stock check and administrate the finances. Download the job role and description or email Sue, Chair of 21st Century Thame, suedownhill@gmail.com for further information and an informal discussion.
The ducks are tipped into the river Thame ready to race. Image – Nick White 2014
BOOK your place in the duck race! – This year’s Thame Duck Race will take place on Sunday, June 11, at Thame Bridge (Priest End), with gates opening at 10:45am. Purchase your duck race ticket from the Town Hall now for just £2, with all proceeds going to local charities, causes and sports clubs. If your duck is one of the first three across the finish line, you could win a prize voucher worth up to £50! The event is being organised Thame Round Table.
FUNDING available for innovative projects promoting walking and cycling – don’t miss out! Exciting opportunity to apply for funding for new projects promoting walking and cycling.
The Department for Transport will fund up to £470,000 for innovative projects that lead to more walking and cycling. Proposals will tackle current barriers and encourage more journey stages to be made by bicycle or on foot. Innovations may include, for example, technology, infrastructure, manufacturing or behavioural change.
The competition is open to individuals, groups and organisations. It is particularly suitable for early-stage, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Industry partners such as local government, independent and third sectors can carry out the project on their own or with others.
This competition has two phases. Up to £170,000 is allocated for phase one, and up to £300,000 for phase two.
phase 1: proof of concept. Projects should last up to 15 weeks and range in size up to a total cost of £25,000 each
phase 2: demonstrator projects. Projects should last up to 9 months. They can range in size up to a total cost of £100,000 per project
The deadline to register for this competition is June 7, 2017. The deadline for submission of applications is 14 June 2017 LINK HERE for full details.
Time is short so if you are interested, register now!
BEES are in trouble – can you help? Join the Friends of the Earth’s Great British Bee Count until June 30, 2017. There’s a free app to help you get started in identifying and recording different species. By taking part, you’ll learn more about our brilliant bees and easy ways to help them. It’s also a great nature activity to do with children – encouraging them to get up close with these wonderful insects. Over 15,000 people took part in last year’s count.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following an attempted burglary in Thame.
On 26.05.17 at 12:00 a property in Brookside was the target for an attempted burglary. No entry was gained.
If you have seen any suspicious looking vehicles or people in the area or have any information relating to this message, please call the police via the 24 hour non- emergency telephone number 101.
Alternatively, if you have any information but wish to remain anonymous, please call crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
Battling Firsts slip to Buckingham defeat – THAME Cricket Club’s 1st XI hosted Buckingham for their first home league game of the season last Saturday (May 13) and were asked to bat after losing the toss.
After losing Will Sutcliffe in the first over, Thame struggled for momentum on a slow wicket. Some fluency was found in a strong partnership between skipper Mike Beard (54) and Richard Straughan (61), but Thame failed to capitalise on this platform and a rather disappointing final 10 overs saw them finish on 205-8.
Knowing this to be a below-par total, Thame battled extremely well to keep Buckingham quiet in reply. A strong performance in the field, combined with some tight bowling, saw the required rate steadily climb towards a tense finish. However, wickets-in-hand ultimately proved vital for Buckingham, who got home for the loss of just 3 wickets with 6 balls to spare. Thame will look to get back to winning ways this Saturday, away at Amersham.
Saunders batting heroics not enough for seconds
IN their first away league match of the season, Thame second XI faced Witney Mills’ first XI. After losing the toss, Thame were forced to bat, losing early wickets on a seaming wicket and falling to 69-6. Supported by crucial innings from debutants Matt Ridgway (24) and Michael Anderson (22), Dave Saunders’s excellent knock (69*) helped Thame reach 212.
In reply, Witney Mills started by scoring below the required run-rate but retaining key wickets in hand. Although Chris Penny, Matt Furness and James Adams all took key wickets, Witney Mills reached the target for victory with 11 balls remaining, thanks to mature batting performances from Mayho, Claridge and Evans. Thame 2nd XI play against Bletchley Town 1st XI at home next week, where they will be looking to kick-start their season.
Thirds batting lets them down against tough Twyford
THAME thirds lost by 106 runs, away to a strong Twyford team. Thame managed to keep Twyford to a reasonable total after 30 overs, but a solid 51 from Cronshaw and some power hitting by Bridgeman (73) ensured a sizeable total of 229. Vim Desai offered some bowling resistance, taking 6 wickets, while Ian McStay, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Thompson and Jamie Wiles took 1 each.
Thame, in reply, started respectably with a 30 from Desai, but a middle-order collapse left Thame in trouble. This left George Patey (24), Mark Fellowes (23) and the tail to attempt to salvage a draw, but it wasn’t to be, as B. Harper starred for the hosts taking 5 for 36, to have Thame all out for 122. The 3rds are back at home next week, against Cropredy 3s, both seeking their first wins of the season.
Under-Elevens beat Horspath
IT was left to Thame Under-11s to bring the club back to winning ways last Sunday (May 14), beating Horspath at home, by 2 wickets, in a tense finish. Mack Copley (25 not out) and Monty Muncaster (17) were the heroes of the run chase.
ONE-TIME Master Chef contestant, Ashley Byrne, will be cooking up a BBQ at the Three Horseshoes, Towersey, when the pub stages a charity event on May 27.
Former Master Chef, Ashley Byrne
Ashley will be working with Mark’s BBQ and live music will be provided by the band, Tay o’Lay.
The pub’s landlord, Grant, said: “There’ll be the usual pub food and lots of beer of course, and a marquee for music and dancing and we hope to see lots of local people here to help us raise funds in aid of The British Legion.”
THAME Town Council has rejected a proposal to split a Thame shop into two separate spaces, to provide a restaurant and delicatessen at the front, and a furnishings shop at the rear.
Wildwood Restaurants Group have submitted the plans to turn the front of Greens Furnishings in Upper High Street, Thame, into a restaurant and delicatessen, whilst Greens retain the back half, accessed through a new entrance at the side of the shop through the current small alley way.
However, Thame Town Council’s Planning Committee voted to recommend refusal of the application, mainly on the grounds that more large, waste wheelie bins in the area, would add to the ‘eyesore’ already created by the bins outside Prezzo and Jack and Alice, close by.
The final decision on the plans rests with South Oxfordshire District Council. The full application can be read HERE
FOLLOWING Thame Town Council’s competition to design a new, community flag, a winner has now been chosen from 33 different designs.
Mayor Cllr Tom Wyse and Deputy Mayor (Cllr Linda Emery with the winning design
At its Annual Meeting, on May 9, Thame Town Council chose the winning design from a shortlist of four. The town councillors were really impressed with all of the designs and thanked everyone who entered. The winning flag was designed by Hazel Mann, and was chosen for its modern design which the council said reflected the council’s website.
A council spokesperson said: “The designer has informed us that the wavy lines represent the elements which surround Thame – the blue line represents the River Thame, the white line represents the Phoenix Trail, and the green line represents the countryside. Hazel is excited and proud to be chosen as the winner and is looking forward to seeing the flag being flown! The flag should be produced in the next few weeks. ”
You can view all of the entries on the Town Council’s website at www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/town-flag-winner-chosen.
Pictured: The new town flag, and the Mayor (Cllr Tom Wyse) and Deputy Mayor (Cllr Linda Emery) holding the winning design.
THAME’S Charter Market is taking part in the high profile Love Your Local Market campaign, which is running between May 17 – 31 , led by the National Association of British Market Authorities, with full support from the wider markets industry and the Government.
The weekly market, which has been established in Thame since 1183, will be embracing social media with posts about the various stalls that you can find at the market every Tuesday, through their Facebook page. They are asking everyone to get involved by liking the page and sharing details about your favourite stalls with your friends, using #LYLM2017 and #Thame. Thame market is aiming to reach 1,000 likes by the end of the campaign and needs your help to achieve this!
Thame’s monthly Farmers’ Market will also be getting involved in the campaign through their Facebook, so make sure you show them some love by liking their page! They will also be posting regular features throughout LYLM fortnight, showcasing the products available on the second Tuesday of each month.
Started in 2012 amidst fears around the sustainability of our nation’s high streets, Love Your Local Market participants have staged over 11,000 events. This year, Thame’s Tuesday Charter Market shall be joining over 1200 markets across Britain in this campaign to highlight the importance that our market plays in the heart of our communities, not only for retail but as a valuable community assets that provides a focal point.
High Streets Minister, Andrew Percy, said: “We have a proud heritage of markets in this country. They are a vital part of Britain’s bustling high streets and the heartbeat of communities across the country. Markets are a key part of the retail offer in many towns, contributing to jobs and local growth and are a proven catalyst for encouraging the next generation of business people to start or develop their own businesses”
Each week, Thame Market features a Community Stall that groups and charities can use to enjoy the buzz of the market crowds and promote their work or fundraise right in the heart of the community. As part of the event this stall will feature the Red Kite Family Centre on May 30, from 10am – 1pm. They will be running ‘Carnival Crafts’ providing children with the opportunity to come and get involved in making flags and streamers that they can bring to wave at Thame’s Carnival which takes place on June 10.
Love Your Local Market is being led by the National Association of British Market Authorities and supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Association of Town City Management, National Market Traders Federation, Local Government Association and the National Association of Local Councils.
This year’s Love Your Local Market campaign is being Sponsored by Gala Tent.
THE architectural design and project management team from PCMS Design, based in Haddenham, has been recognised for its work on new Community Pavilion for Chinnor Parish Council.
Spokesperson for PCMS Design, Debbie Mellor,told Thame.Net: “We were delighted last Friday, May 8. to attend the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Central Region Awards ceremony in Milton Keynes. This Black Tie awards dinner is held each year to recognise and celebrate the very best construction projects in the area in a number of different categories.
“This year, PCMS Design was a finalist in two awards categories. The first was Best Public Service Building for our work on a new Community Pavilion for Chinnor Parish Council. This large mixed use building, which opened in early 2016, incorporates changing rooms, a social hub including function room as well as a new Parish Council office. Since opening, the Pavilion has become a very popular and well-frequented facility in Chinnor.
“Our second finalist nomination was Best Educational Project for our design and project management of a new three-classroom block on the site of Biggleswade Academy in Bedfordshire, with some facilities specially designed for pupils with physical and sensory difficulties. Our design included a distinctive barrel-vaulted zinc roof and bright, cheerful interiors.
“We were honoured to receive these nominations and to attend the ceremony with clients, contractors and building control representatives involved in each construction project, and would like to congratulate all of the winners from the evening.”
Mungiu’s film, like many contemporary masterpieces of post Soviet European cinema, examines the legacies of the past: the ghosts of the old regime haunt the present such that the wide-scale corruption of the old society has translated into individual moral and spiritual corruption that people struggle to resist.
