BUSINESSES in the Thame locality are being invited to a town centre event to promote the vast diversity of businesses in the area to the general public, as well as to show off what services they might provide to one another.
Children at Thame carnival last year, had the chance to sit on a Kubota machine
On July 11, businesses are invited to exhibit at the Open Doors event, for free. Space will be limited and so an early response is recommended. Already, the event has received commitments from Kubota, Farol, Atlet, DAF Trucks, CPM among other locally based companies.
The Open Doors event aims to encourage local businesses to engage with the community, build business networks and develop a better understanding amongst local people of the range and diversity of businesses in the area.
The idea for an ‘Open Doors’ event came out of the Thame Business Forum that represents some of the larger businesses in Thame.
All businesses are welcome. Please note, the event is not an opportunity to sell to customers, rather, it is an occasion to learn about other’s businesses and to share the story of your own business.
A choice of pitches is available outside, of either 8m x 4m, 6m x 3m or 3m x 2m. It is recommended that stall-holders outside bring a gazebo or similar along with their promotional material. Trestle tables will be available on request. Inside, a trestle table and a chair will be provided.
Set-up will be from 7.30am on Saturday morning and the event will run from 9am to 3pm.
The event is FREE to take part in. If you are interested in being a part of Open Doors, please complete the attached Open Doors Registration Form or email: enquiries@thameinbusiness.org.uk
For further information, please call Nicky Stallwood on 01844 210524
THE film version of Vera Brittain’s classic memoir of the same name – one of the few published accounts of the First World War written by a woman, is to shown at Thame Cinema 4 All on Friday, June 5.
It tells of the author’s experience of that brutal conflict and the forging of her pacifist politics. Keen to pursue her education in spite of her devoted father’s reservations, Vera takes up her place at Somerville College Oxford to read English. The year is 1914. Vera’s brother and her circle of close male acquaintances and lovers, once idealistic, impassioned and youthfully intense, volunteer to fight but return from the horrors of the front changed men.
It is not long before Vera herself sacrifices her hard won place at university to become a nurse on the Western Front, and so begins her narrative of appalling difficulty, devastating loss of innocence, and her genesis as a writer and outspoken social critic. Like so many of her generation, Vera would return from war with a bitter disdain for the old world and those who ran it, and her pacifism would extend from this global conflict to the next.
Vera is strident and tenacious and Vikander’s performance among an exceptional cast is captivating. Beautifully shot and powerfully moving, this is a film that was perhaps overshadowed on its release by other showy Oscar contenders, but is worth catching on our very own big screen.
Friday June 5 at 8pm (doors 7.30).
UK 2014, 129 minutes, 12A Certificate
Directed by James Kent, Starring Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Dominic West, Emily Watson
To view a trailer of the film, and for ticket information and booking, visit the website: LINK
A newly launched café in Thame, which has already proved very popular with visitors on market day, has been awarded £5,000 in grants to help it get off the ground.
L to R – Malcolm Ing, Janner Islat, Mark Thorne and Michelle Diffey
The Safari pop up café, launched nine weeks ago to give special needs adults in Thame an opportunity to gain work experience, has won the support of six grant providers in the last few weeks, including the Red Nose Day Fund and the National Lottery.
The 1950s style café, which runs on a Tuesdays from 2 to 4pm at Christchurch in Thame, has been set up by Thame-based special needs charity, Safari. The project aims to provide vital work experience for special needs adults and to give them training to enable them to acquire skills and get involved with the community.
Safari Chair, Michelle Diffey, explained: “Fewer than one-in-five people with a disability work but, according to research, 65% would like to work for the same reasons as everyone else – for a sense of purpose and identity.”
Staff will be trained in customer service, stock control and food preparation and work towards gaining nationally recognised ASDAN qualifications.
The café is attracting a wide range of customers with its fresh coffee, milk shakes and delicious home made cakes selling for only £1 each.
“We hope this work experience will help our special needs adults to gain confidence and increase their independence enabling them to go on and get other jobs in the future,” said Michelle, adding: “We also believe it will build links with the Thame community.”
This month (May) also sees Safari as one of the three charities taking part in Waitrose’s community token scheme in which £1,000 is shared between three local charities.
Over the past few weeks we have seen the surrounding horizons of Thame changing for the ‘future’ with the commencement of the industrial development opposite DAF, Taylor Wimpey and Croudace Homes all building and changing the landscape of the perimeter of the town.
In addition we learn plans have now been submitted to SODC byTesco in a step forward for what will be a much needed additional resource for the town. Much controversy surrounds this particular development in that it will affect the heart of Thame and the independent shops.
On reading the article on Thame News Net it is clear that it would be detrimental to Tesco themselves if they were to detract and take away the appeal and tradition of Thame town centre and it is a point they recognise -allowing Tesco would actually enhance the centre by avoiding the roads being congested – it would allow people to enjoy the independent shops without the fear of having to constantly ‘watch out’ for traffic and actually assist in sustaining the towns vibrancy. The proposed provision of a bus service indicates that Tesco are keen to maintain the link between the town centre and its proposed ‘out of town’ store making access to Thame itself more accessible – thus encouraging those living in surrounding villages to come to here to shop.
Several ‘independents’ have closed over the past few months – it cannot be claimed that this is due to a ‘superstore’ which has not yet been built – looking at those individual shops, ie Isabellas Closet, Ella-Jane Gifts, Sweet Surrender, Freestyle Clothing – can it be honestly said that the type of goods they sold would have been under any threat from a store like Tesco – is it not more likely due to the possible high business rates charged by the Council – an issue highlighted by Thame Centre First who also recognise poor parking within the town – it certainly cannot be claimed that it is due to reduced footfall because of Tesco!
Some shops are displaying ‘Save Thame Town – say No to Tesco’ signs -without naming to cause discord, those shops are simply not selling goods or providing services that will be affected by another supermarket. In fact these businesses would probably benefit with the right approach and promotion – it is all well and good jumping on the band wagon ‘stop Tesco’ for fear of loss of business but effort needs to be made by these individual shops to promote and further appeal to new custom drawn to the town, not only by Tesco but for those 600+ new families who will be moving to the area.
It is claimed in the article on TNN that the impact and loss of an estimated £10M could be suffered by businesses in the town– I would ask whether that £10M would be lost from the ‘independents’ alone or whether in fact it includes the current supermarkets who are afraid of competition but in the meantime provide lack of provision nor cater for the full needs for a large percentage of the towns people.
Tesco should be WELCOMED as an enhancement and addition to the town and looked upon as an important part of the overall infrastructure to support its growing population along with the need for expanding schools and doctors surgeries – those against the proposal should possibly look at it with a less blinkered approach and be looking at the overall whole sustainability of the town as a thriving place for both business and local communities alike.
CRENDON Corinthians’ football club wants to offer the opportunity for more girls to play football, and is holding a fun taster session to try and attract new girl members.
Crendon Corinthians is a successful Charter Standard community youth football club run by volunteers, and trains children from age five upwards, and for last nine years, has had special girls’ teams.
In the younger years, girls play with boys – however, as they get older, there’s the chance to play in all-girls teams. The club already has about 60 girls from years 4 to 10 playing at Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 age groups in the Buckinghamshire Girls’ Leagues. Currently, Crendon Corinthians are looking for new girls to join for next season, particularly those who are in years 4, 5 and 6 now (although older girls are also very welcome). The club would be make most welcome girls from the surrounding area, not just Long Crendon.
More information about the club is available on the website LINK HERE. Anyone is welcome to attend the new players’s fun taster session, Long Crendon Recreation Ground on Saturday, June 20 – you don’t have to have ever kicked a ball around before!
The session starts at 10am and will finish at 11am. Contact Sue Cullen, Email: suecullen101@hotmail.com, or or just show up on the day. All you need is a pair of trainers (and shin pads if you have them or can borrow them). Crendon Corinthians look forward to seeing you!
A planning application for a high, white fence and gates to be placed around a property in Hawthorne Avenue, Thame, has failed to be acceptable to Thame Town Council, after a neighbour, who is blind, told the council that it would create a danger for him and other road users.
12, Hawthorn Avenue, Thame (Courtesy of Google 2009)
Mr R Gerhart, who lives at 10, Hawthorne Avenue, Thame, explained that No. 12, where the fence and electric gates would be placed, is on a corner and where he crosses the road from his own home. Any car would have to be at least a bonnet’s length out of the gates before being able to see anything, he explained.
Mrs Gerhart added that the proposal would cut out light from their property, the proposed gates being only 10″ from her bedroom window. She added that enclosing the frontage of No.12 with a fence would ‘spoil a lovely, open-plan estate.”
There had been 23 letters of objection to the planning proposal, and several neighbours and supporters in the public gallery clapped when Mr Gerhart had finished speaking.
The town council’s Planning committee gave its reasons for recommending refusal as ‘Unneighbourly’, and ‘Not in keeping with the character of the area’.
You can read the Planning Committee’s other decisions from Tuesday’s meeting (26/05), here: Recommendations Issue 29.5.15
THAMES Valley Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to interview after a taxi driver was attacked by a passenger wearing a knuckleduster.
The 39-year-old taxi driver dropped off five customers, all men, in Sheerstock at the Thame Road junction in Haddenham, at about 3.20am on Monday (25/5).
One of the customers then demanded money from the taxi driver. The offender, who was wearing a knuckleduster, then punched the driver’s side window, causing it to smash. He then punched the victim who handed over a quantity of cash to the offender.
The victim was treated by for cuts and bruises by his GP.
Investigating officer, PC Tom Booth of Local CID based at Aylesbury, said: “I would like to speak to the man in the CCTV images as we believe he might have vital information about the incident. (IMAGE REMOVED AS THE MAN PICTURED HAS SPOKEN TO THE POLICE)
“If you recognise the man in the images then please contact police immediately by calling 101.
“If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”
THAME’S First Thursday Music Club will start the build-up to the Towersey Festival, at The James Figg in Thame on Thursday, June 4, with a launch party.
Over the last five years the club has given the opportunity to thousands of acts to perform and be heard, in front of a large, warm and appreciative crowd. As a result of playing in the ‘Open Mic’ section, many acts have been invited to play the 10 o clock Feature Spot which gives them the opportunity to play a longer set as the centre piece of the evening.
Since 2013, The First Thursday Music Club has been given its own stage at Towersey Festival and a number of artists were invited to play on this significant stage in the very popular Beer Tent. This year however, The First Thursday Music Club, in addition to running the FTMC stage again, has announced that two of its Featured acts have been promoted, and asked to appear on the main stage at Towersey Festival over the August Bank Holiday.
The August List (featuring Kerraleigh and Martin) and Papa Truck with their British bluegrass, will be playing on the same stage as Joan Armatrading and Bellowhead!
FTMC is the biggest Open Mic night in the District with artists travelling from as far afield as London, Reading, Oxford and Northampton to come and play in front of a very large and appreciative audience. Entrance is FREE!
Anyone can play by signing up at the venue before 7.45pm. Check out the club on Facebook, The First Thursday Music Club
A GROUP opposed to a supermarket being built on the outskirts of Thame, has launched a petition calling on the local planning authority to reject the planning application, as it believes the proposal goes against the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.
Photo: Nick White Photography
The group, Thame Centre First, wants South Oxfordshire District Council to reject Tesco’s planning application for an edge-of-town superstore on the DAF site at Howland Road, Thame, a petrol station and office accommodation.
Thame Centre First states that its aim is to ensure that: “Thame town centre continues to thrive by resisting edge-of-town retail development,” and that close to thirty town centre retailers have signed up to support the campaign along with all five of Thame’s residents’ associations. Sue Gilbert, of Thame Centre First, said: “A key policy in Thame’s award-winning Neighbourhood Plan champions the town centre by requiring new retail development to be focused within the town centre boundaries. The Neighbourhood Plan also states that Thame’s retail needs within the next 12 years will not require development of more than 600sq m of convenience and food retail, whereas the Tesco development is planned to be 6.5 times this size.”
Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan received overwhelming local support in a 2013 referendum and attracted national recognition as the the winner in the Innovative Plan-Making category of the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence in 2014.
Sue continued: “The majority of shop owners have grave concerns for their businesses as the planned superstore would draw shoppers away from the town centre and reduce footfall.”
Robert Stanley Opticians has a branch on Cornmarket and their managing director, John Edwards, added his voice: “Thame is one of the few thriving town centres because it has focused attention on the centre. This proposal would undermine the vitality and character of the town centre.”
The consultation period for the planning application is now open and runs until June 25, 2015. Anyone wishing to support the campaign can add their name to an e-petition on the SODC website LINK HERE. In addition, a paper petition is available for signing in a number of shops in the town centre who are supporting the campaign.
Alex Taylor, another member of Thame Centre First says: “Local residents should not stand by and allow this development to be approved, risking irrevocable changes to the character of Thame. If you genuinely care about living in a vibrant market town, please support this important petition and fight against edge-of-town retail development.”
Those local residents who support the Tesco proposal, disagree with the Thame Centre First group’s view that the proposed store would damage the High Street, and are of the view that it would attract people to Thame. Some are of the view that the proposed store would be convenient for particularly older people living at that end of town. Tesco itself has said that a survey it has conducted showed that such a store would prevent local people going out of Thame to Asda, Wheatley and other supermarkets, to do their weekly shopping.
You can view the FULL Planning application here LINK
CELEBRITY one-man – and occasionally one-woman shows, have become a regular feature of Thame’s gem of venue, the Players Theatre, in Nelson Street and the latest to visit is actor, writer, humourist and former Conservative MP, Gyles Brandreth.
He will be presenting an evening of extraordinary true stories, hilarious anecdotes and unexpected revelations inspired by his unlikely career in TV, politics and the theatre.
Gyles’ revealing and deliciously indiscreet tales feature a glittering cast of characters past and present and his recently published, latest book is aptly titled ‘Something Sensational to Read on the Train. Tickets for the show, on Sunday, May 31, at 7.45pm, cost £18 and are available from Spear Travels, Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 01844 217228, or from the Thame Players’ website: www.thameplayers.co.uk
