THE market town of Thame has undoubtedly won its place on the annual regional food festival trail, following, what the town’s Mayor described as a triumph!
This, only the third year in a row that the Thame has held a food festival, show-cased three times the number of stalls as the previous two years, and attracted many more times the number of visitors to share in what was a wonderfully vibrant, colourful and interesting day for locals and visitors alike.
Guest speakers and demonstrating chefs enjoyed interacting with a large and responsive audience eager to find out all about local food products and retailers and improve their food knowledge and skills.
?It was amazing,? said co-organiser Sally Dickinson. ?It?s been such a success: beyond my wildest dreams. It was on so much of a bigger scale than last year ? I still can?t really come to terms with it. There is a real feeling now that this festival is here to stay. The only way is up.?
This was the view of Thame Market Town Co-ordinator for South Oxfordshire, Alison Isherwood, who was central to the organisation of the food festival:
?There were so many positive comments from people about how fantastic it was and how good it was for the town: bringing everyone together. I was really moved. It?s been sensational!?
Echoing Alison were the thoughts of Sonja Francis of 21st Century Thame and Thame.net: “It?s what it has done for the town of Thame that means so much to me. I always knew we had such great potential here. The people are really special. I?m very proud of what everybody has achieved and I can?t wait for next year.?
Sally Dorling of Marketing Foods, another joint organiser of the festival was also thrilled. ?It was a lot of hard work for everyone involved but we couldn?t have been more pleased with the turn out. What was particularly satisfying was the breadth and knowledge of the crowd and the number of people who came along to support us. It was amazing. We tried hard to get a good mix of stall holders and attendees with a real emphasis on quality ? and that seems to have paid off.
“I would like to thank all those who worked with us to make this such a great event, including the town council and Oxfordshire Thriving Market Towns Fund. We really do appreciate it,? she concluded.
Trade was brisk all day. P.E. Mead, producers of cold pressed rapeseed oil said that it was the best day?s trading they?d had at a festival this year. The Tim?s Dairy stand had sold out of yogurts by 1pm.
?It?s been incredible,? said Julian running the stall. ?I?ve never known anything like it. We had our first customer at 9.15 and it has been continuous ever since then. We could have sold twice as much.?
He wasn?t the only one. Several stall holders had to phone back to try and get more stock and several had to pack up early as a consequence.
Participants including Clays butchers, Sharyn Singer and the Book House and many more, have already signed up for next year. The level of positive comment and congratulation has been amazing.
Tickets for the special events including the talks by M&J Seafoods, Newitts the Butchers and The Belle Vue Tea Company, in The Stables at the James Figg Pub, were all taken up. The children?s workshops including the making of a Dough Tortoise at The Cottage Bakery, Chocolate decorating with The Chocolate Source and Pasta making with Splat Cooking, were equally popular and a great day was had by all those involved.
The last word goes to Thame’s Mayor, Adam Buckland:
“This years food festival was a triumph!” he said. “I was a bit disappointed not to be able to go to our twin town Montesson this weekend because I had a lot of functions and launches to attend in Thame. But, as I was sitting in the area in front of the cookery demonstration stage eating a lovely selection of the food that was on offer, chatting to friends in the bright sunshine, I thought this could have easily been a festival on the continent!
“The festival was packed with people who had all come to taste the local produce, watch demonstrations and see the many varied stalls all full of amazing colours and smells. A friend of mine who lives outside Thame said to me that Thame has really improved over recent years and with all the different festivals, Markets and fairs, has become a vibrant place to come and visit especially with his children.
“We took the children up to the Aga shop where they decorated their own cup cakes and spent the next half hour wiping it off their hands, faces and for one of my kids, ears! Great fun was had by all and we can’t wait till next year! Thank you for all your hard work and for helping to bring this festival to Thame!”