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Category: Thame news

  • Roaming Midsomer in Barnaby’s footsteps – new walking guide for fans

    The Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, enjoys a glass of bubbly with Martin Andrew (L), Chris Behan (R) and Luise Pattinson who co-manages the Book House in Thame
    The Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, enjoys a glass of bubbly with Martin Andrew (L), Chris Behan (R) and Luise Pattinson who co-manages the Book House in Thame

    FOLLOWING a book launch at the local book shop, a body count in Thame – or ‘Causton’ as it’s usually known in the world of ‘Midsomer Murders’, revealed that everyone who had arrived, left alive, which was a relief to the authors of Roaming Midsomer – Walking and Eating in the Murderous Heart of England.

    Chris Behan and Martin Andrew were at The Book House in Thame, to launch Roaming Midsomer, the follow-up to Chris’s solo project, the hugely successful, Exploring Midsomer, which drew fans from all over the world, away from their TV sets and out into the beautiful, pastoral landscape of ‘Midsomer’ locations.

    For this new book, it was Martin, an avid walker himself, who researched and designed the walks, and Chris who took the photographs for this compilation of ‘interesting and pleasant walks, offering plenty to do and see, to eat and drink while exploring locations used in the TV series’.

    Most of the walks are designed for the serious walker, but Roaming Midsomer will also satisfy the ‘Sunday afternoon’ stroller, armed only with a mobile phone app, to punch in the useful postcodes for eating and drinking establishments close to the routes.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Both Chris Behan and Martin Andrew have lived in the area for nearly 40 years, and know well many of the locations featured in the series, which is among the most-sold British TV shows worldwide, whether as TV Programming or DVD. In other countries, the series is known as Barnaby, the name of the leading Midsomer Constabulary sleuth.

    Roaming Midsomer will no doubt be vital reading for fans of the show who will want to get out there and experience for themselves, the Midsomer Murders factor – without the fear of violence – and return ready for series 17, which as of this month, March 2016, will be available in episodes via streaming through Netflix; surely bound to be the inspiration for another book from Chris and Martin?

    Roaming Midsomer: Walking and Eating in the Murderous Heart of England, by Chris Behan and Martin Andrew – Published by The History Press, and available from The Book House, 93 High Street, Thame, OX9 3HJ – See WEBSITE http://www.thebookhousethame.co.uk/

    MORE Midsomer Murders news stories from Thame.Net’s archive

  • Take the Thame survey & share your views

    Image by Nick White
    Image by Nick White

    THE Annual Town Meeting in Thame, will be on Tuesday, March 22, when local residents get the chance to address the Council with any issues, questions or concerns they may have about the community – and this year promises to be a lively event.

    The Town Council, in partnership with Miller Research UK, will be hosting a Vibrancy & Vitality Workshop at 6.30pm as part of the meeting to allow residents to have their say about Thame’s future. The council wants to hear the people of Thame’s views on why they think the town is a great place to live and work, and what ideas they may have for the town over the coming months and years.

    Miller Research will also be researching what other towns are doing and what potential options there are to develop Thame’s vibrancy and vitality.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1So spread the news and encourage all your friends, relatives and neighbours to take part in the workshop, and to fill in the short survey first at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Thame, as the more ideas the better!

    The meeting and workshop will be in the Upper chamber of the town hall on Tuesday, March 22, at 6.30pm.

  • Bus subsidies delay proposed – until end of school term

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s cabinet is to be asked to approve a plan to delay the end to bus subsidies until after the end of the school year, so as not to affect pupils’ transport to and from school.

    Hero-Carousel bus (400x288)

    A decision on the proposal, for the extension, to July 20, will be made on March 15.

    Background

    On November 10, 2015, OCC’s cabinet met to consider public feedback to the subsidised bus service and Dial-a-Ride service proposals that were put forward in a consultation held between June 19 and September 15, and to then make a decision about how to make the savings needed from these services.

    They took the decision that the council withdraw subsidies paid to run 118 subsidised bus routes in Oxfordshire. This decision was approved at the full council’s overall budget setting meeting on February 16, 2016.

    In its announcement on Tuesday, March 8, OCC said: “It is important to note that the withdrawal of an Oxfordshire County Council bus subsidy does not necessarily mean that the service will be cancelled (or subsidised portion of the service). The operator may decide to continue running it without any Oxfordshire County Council subsidy (or another operator step in and take it on).

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1“Oxfordshire County Council is in discussions with operators and will work with them to try to maintain or commercialise services wherever possible if a subsidy is withdrawn.”

  • Raising funds for Sport Relief is a piece of cake – at Thame Barns Centre

    sports (400x355) (2)

    A sporty raffle, including Bootcamp for two, as well as delicious cakes, tea, coffee and juice for the children, will be on offer at a Sports Relief Coffee Morning taking place this Friday, March 11, from 9am to 11.30am, at Thame Barns Centre.

    Other raffle prizes will include free yoga and zumba classes and a few less sporty prizes like a bottle of fizz!

    Thame Barns Centre regularly supports both local and national charities, and always have a Macmillan Coffee Morning in September and quizzes twice a year to support local activities.

    To find out more, take a look at their website www.thamebarnscentre.co.uk

  • Great War project inspires council away-day plus a TV Award

    STAFF from Thame Town Council recently took some time away from work at the town hall and joined some of the councillors and members of the Thame Remembers team on a visit to the Poppy Factory in Richmond.

    poppy_factory_visit_,Feb2016 (400x334)
    The Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon (2nd right) with Mark Croake, Maintenance Assistant  (far right), with town hall staff and Cllr Don Butler, about to visit the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory

    As well as learning that The Poppy Factory is a separate charity from the Royal British Legion (although most of its products are sold through the British Legion), they also learned about the origins of the poppy as an emblem of the First World War.

    It all began, it seems, with the famous poem by Major John McCrae, which ends with:
    “Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
    In Flanders fields.”

    This was later adapted, in 1919, by Moina Michael in the USA where the first remembrance poppies were sold. The concluding verse of the revised poem reads:

    “And now the Torch and Poppy Red
    We wear in honour of our dead.
    Fear not that ye have died for naught;
    We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
    In Flanders Fields.”

    The first poppies to be sold in England, were in fact made in France.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1You can read more about the visit and the Poppy Factory in the latest Thame Remembers newsletter HERE , which includes a piece on how the Thame Remembers project inspired the judges of The Royal Television Society Awards, to recognise the work of a BBC reporter who accompanied Thame Remembers members on a recent Battlefield tour in France.

  • What’s your vision for the future of Thame?

    all_wrapped_up_Buttermaret_thame2014_july(SonjaFrancis) (800x501) (400x251)

    THAME Town Council, with the help of Miller Research, is currently carrying out a Town Centre Vibrancy and Vitality study, and they want to hear from local people about their vision for the future of Thame and the potential options to develop the towns vibrancy and vitality.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Anyone who visits, lives or works in Thame is being invited to take part in the short, online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Thame

  • Car fire closes Thame road

    THAME by-pass, the A4129, outside the football stadium was closed for a while around 8.30pm this evening (March 8), after a car caught fire following a collision.

    No further information at this time.

    Photo via twitter @tvpsouthandvale (Thames Valley Police)
    Photo via twitter @tvpsouthandvale (Thames Valley Police)

  • Easter picnic fun at Cuttlebrook, Thame

    POND dipping, bug hunting, planting sunflower seeds and making bird feeders, are just some of the activities to take part in at Soha’s Come out and Play, at Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve in Thame.

    Families enjoying Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve in May, 2015
    Families enjoying Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve in May, 2015

    So, bring a picnic and join in a FREE morning of family fun on March 31, during the Easter holidays, 10am to 1pm.

    To find out more, call the RI team at Soha on 01235 515900 or 08000 141545, www.cuttlebrook.org.uk
    Free 2 hour parking at the Scout Hut, Southern Road, Thame, OX9 2EB

  • Ready Steady Girls at the Players Theatre

    Mari-Wilson_main (400x277)

    IN 2000, Mari Wilson was the obvious choice to play Dusty Springfield on the hugely successful UK tour of Dusty the Musical. Following her sellout 2014 shows – Mari Sings Dusty – Mari launches her brand new show, Ready Steady Girls featuring unique interpretations of the songs that influenced her as she was growing up, including iconic classics by Dusty, Petula, Cilla and others.

    Join Mari on her personal, emotional and often hilarious journey through life at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame, on Saturday, March 12.

    Tickets are £17 from Spears Travel, in Greyhound Walk, Thame, phone: 01844 217228 or online from thameplayers.co.uk

  • Victory for Chinnor’s Under 11s in last Saturday’s Premier, half time match

    Under_11s_chinnor

    IN a true team performance, the Under 11s did themselves and the the Chinnor RFC club very proud at Allianz Park on Saturday, March 5.

    Representing Chinnor in front of a packed crowd during the half time interval of the Saracens v Northampton match, they out-scored their opponents, Southend five tries to zero. The scorers were Ben Warner, twice, Will Clarke, Nathan Barlow-Heal and Tom Bridges.