JUST three days to go for the ever popular, Thame annual duck race that takes place this Sunday, June 14. The race starts on the old town (Crendon) bridge, which is accessed from the bottom of Priest End, behind St Mary’s church. Gates open at 10.30am and the race will start at 11 am.
The ducks are tipped into the river Thame ready to race. Image – Nick White 2014
You’ll need to be ‘quack’ off the mark, say the organisers, Thame & District Round Table, if you don’t want to miss out! Tickets are on sale at The Falcon Pub, The Cross Keys pub and The Citizens Advise Bureau.
Tickets will also be available on Carnival day, Saturday, on the Thame Round Table’s stall at the Thame fete, Southern Road Rec, after the procession of floats through the town has arrived. There will also be some tickets on sale at the start line on the morning of the race, although in previous years the event has been known to sell out on the day, so it’s best to try and buy tickets in advance if you can.
MORE than 80 hungry foodies dined on a veritable seasonal feast when the Sandy Lane Farm Supper Club opened its doors to a one-off evening on Friday, May 15.
The occasion was a special supper club held in support of this year’s Thame Food Festival, raising important funds to help stage the annual celebration of local and artisan food that takes over the centre of Thame every September.
Cate and George Bennett from Sandy Lane Farm laid on the supper club in the lovely surroundings of their rustic barn, with many other festival supporters and volunteers chipping in to create a wonderful showcase of seasonal food and drink that mirrors the food festival itself.
Host for the evening was Thame Food Festival Patron Lotte Duncan, who welcomed guests and along with local cookery writer, BBC Good Food Magazine columnist and baking author Jane Hornby prepared a mouth-watering selection of canapés to set the scene for the good things to follow.
Guests tucked into fantastic artisan English charcuterie including Dorset air-dried beef and dry-cured salamis from Capreolus Fine Foods and Curious Foods, balsamic dipping oils, Belazu accompaniments and artisan ciabatta from the Cornfield bakery, all piled high onto sharing boards.
Delicious smoked BBQ beef and pork from the Smoke Yard Kitchen and Sandy Lane Farm was teamed with a choice of seasonal salads using ingredients fresh from the fields of Sandy Lane Farm and from the kitchens of What’s Cooking in Thame, and to finish there was a delightfully refreshing gooseberry and elderflower ice cream with pink gooseberry sorbet from Ledbury’s Just Rachel Ice Cream with light shortbread biscuits made locally by Hannah Bakes.
Wines chosen to match each course were specially selected by Jerome Harlington from Trailblazing Wine and the meal ended with irresistible Rumsey’s chocolates and coffee served from the quirky pop-up Horsebox coffee shop.
“Our first ever supper club was a big success and much enjoyed by everyone around the table as well as all of us who helped to organise it,” says Lotte Duncan.
“We had a truly wonderful night and the atmosphere was lovely. As I looked across the barn with all its twinkly candles and gorgeous decorations, all I could hear was laughter and chatter and the sound of people having a great time. We ate and drank well, made new friends and talked excitedly about this year’s food festival, which I know is going to be more fantastic than ever.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who made the evening possible. A lot of hard work went into it and we really appreciate that, alongside the presence of all our supporters, guests and sponsors – it couldn’t have happened without them.”
As part of its on-going sponsorship of the Thame Food Festival, Ronald Peet, Anne Battson, Stephen Woods and Robert Pinheiro from Withy King entertained clients and key referrers at the supper club. They reported fantastic feedback from their guests:
“Thank you for a delightful evening. We were very impressed with the food and of course the company! It was very kind of you to invite us.”
“What an amazing experience in magical surroundings.”
“What a perfect setting for such a wondrous evening of local food and wine”.
Whilst the supper club may have been a one off, there is plenty more in store at this year’s Thame Food Festival which takes place from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 26th September 2015 in the heart of Thame town centre. For more information please go to www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk.
THAME Players’ next production, The Taming of the Shrew, reflects Shakespeare’s constant theme of marriage, with its good-humoured take on how two strong- minded, feisty characters meet, clash and finally resolve into a loving relationship.
The production will run from Tuesday, July 7, to Saturday, July 11, at 7.45pm. Tickets: £9 (concessions ££8). Tuesday July 7th all tickets £7.
THIS month’s The Late Breakfast networking event in Thame is this Thursday, June 11.
The Late Breakfast – Monthly networking
Starts at 9am – 10.30am at The Spread Eagle Hotel, in the AJR Room at the rear of the Restaurant. The event will innclude a talk from Greg Lovett of Fizz Accounting, in Thame, ‘No more boom and bust! ‘
Many business owners(and non business owners) are resigned to having volatile, up and down finances. It doesn’t have to be that way, though, says Greg, who will look at some ways in which you can smooth out your business or personal finances and make them work much, much better for you.
JUNE 15, 2015, marks the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and the Oxfam Bookshop in Thame has assembled a superb collection of books on the fact and fiction of the Napoleonic era, in its window display.
Dick Jennens, Shop manager, said: “‘The volunteer team have taken time to collect a great selection of books on this momentous event and the era that preceded it. We are excited and delighted to offer for sale two very special collections:”
History of the Peninsular War, by Sir Charles Oman, 1996, Greenhill Books, in seven volumes, published as a facsimile edition, of the 1930 original, all in Very Good condition with dust-jackets priced at £250.00
A complete set of the 12 Matthew Hervey novels by Alan Mallinson, published by Bantam Press between 1999 and 2015; all are First Editions in VG condition complete with dust-jackets. Three volumes are flat signed by the author. A remarkable set, priced at £400.00.
“This is a great opportunity to purchase two wonderful sets of books relating the fact or fiction of Napoleonic times, and when sold will generate much needed income to fund our work fighting poverty and suffering,” added Dick.
The Oxfam Bookshop, Thame, has been trading since December 2000 and has gained great support from donors, volunteers and customers. Since opening the shop has generated in excess of £1.5m for Oxfam. It is currently supported by 90 volunteers who give on average five hours of time each week. The eldest volunteer will shortly be 94 years of age, the youngest 14 years. We also have a very active online sales operation.
Oxfam is a global humanitarian, development and campaigning organisation working with others top overcome poverty and suffering, established in 1942 in Oxford. We now work in nearly 60 countries on a diverse range of projects, from community health care to providing emergency water sources and sanitation.
For every £1 donated to its general funds, 82p is spent on the emergency, development and campaigning work, 9p is spent on support and governance and 9p is invested to generate future income.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information after a fatal road traffic collision on the M40 last night (June 8).
At around 7.35pm, a black Vauxhall Corsa was travelling southbound between Junction 7, Milton Common, and Junction 6, Lewknor, when it left the motorway and went down the embankment before coming to rest in an adjacent field.
The driver of the black Vauxhall Corsa, a 17-year-old boy from Maidenhead, died at the scene.
Police are appealing to anyone with any information about the collision to contact officers via the 101 number, quoting URN 1449 of 8/6.
Police would also like to speak to the driver of a Jaguar which was seen at or near the scene of the collision.
Investigating officer, PC Alan Turnbull from the Roads Policing Serious Collision Investigation Unit based at Bicester said: “A young man tragically lost his life in this collision and we would like to speak to anyone who saw this incident so that we can establish exactly what happened.
“I am appealing to anyone who saw the black Vauxhall Corsa before the incident, or anyone who saw a Jaguar vehicle at or near the scene to also come forward.
“Any information you might, no matter how small, may aid our investigation.”
If you have any information please contact the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101 quoting URN 1449 8/6.
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.
THE Rotary Club of Thame is organising a film night evening to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. The world acclaimed movie ‘Waterloo’, will be screened at the Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street on Friday, June 12. Doors will open at 7 pm, and the tickets cost £10 per person.
The 1970’s international production, directed by Sergey Bondarchuk, features famous actors like Rod Steiger, Christopher Plummer, and Orson Welles.
Thame Rotarians will try to re-create the atmosphere of the year 1815, including wearing Napoleonic costumes. The raffle prizes will also bring a French flavour to the evening.
The profits raised in the evening will go towards Rotary Club of Thame charities.
To find out how to purchase tickets or to apply to join the Rotary Club of Thame please visit: LINK
As a precursor to Thame Players’ production of Taming of the Shrew, White Cobra Productions are coming to the theatre on Sunday, June 14, at 7.45pm to perform The Shakespeare Revue.
The show is a light-hearted collection of sketches, songs and anecdotes inspired by the works and reputation of William Shakespeare. Originally created for the RSC in April 1993, it includes extracts from Alan Bennett, Bill Oddie, Cole Porter, Richmal Crompton, Victoria Wood and many others. The result is a sparkling entertainment in the revue tradition, performed by six versatile actors and their pianist.
You never knew Shakespeare could be so much fun. Tickets for the show cost just £10 (concessions £9) and are available from Spear Travels, telephone 01844 217228 or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk.
A new charity shop is soon to open in Thame, in the retail space in Cornmarket that was previously occupied by Free Range Clothing.
The new shop will raise funds for the Florence Nightingale Hospice, which has five other stores, including one in Chinnor – outlets that between them currently contribute one third of the total income for the not-for-profit Trust that runs the hospice.
A peep inside Florence Nightingale Hospice’s popular Wendover shop
PR and Marketing Manager for Florence Nightingale, Sam Heggie, told Thame.Net: “We are very excited about coming to Thame which has shown us so much support in the past. We have talked to local people and researched the town centre offering and have decided that our Thame shop will particularly focus on Childrens’ wear.
“We aim to open the shop in Mid-July, and in the meantime, shall be looking for a Shop Manager and a group of volunteers to help operate the shop.”
The Florence Nightingale Hospice supports many patients in the Thame area with life-limiting illness and runs many fund-raising events for the hospice charity throughout the year, including last December’s Santa Fun-run in Thame. Registration is still open for the forthcoming, annual ‘Gemstone Midnight Walk’ on July 11th – SEE LINK
THAME resident Doris Hallett, of Croft Road, celebrated her 100th birthday today at the Thame and District Day Centre, where she has been a stalwart member for over seven years.
As well as a beautiful cake and flowers from the Trustees of the day centre, staff presented Doris with a card, made by hand, by volunteer Denise Hutchings, which was signed by everyone at the day centre – a card that stood proudly next to a birthday card from the Queen congratulating Doris on reaching her centenary.
Doris grew up and lived in Devon, and then lived in Somerset until 2007, when she moved to Thame to live with her daughter Ann. Doris has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Day centre Manager, Gill Coleman, told Thame.Net: “Doris started at the day centre in April 2008 and quickly became a valued member, always on hand to give advice on the Centre’s activities, based on her years of service in the Women’s institute in the West Country where she was renowned for her Dundee cakes! She enjoys singing along with our entertainment and participating in all activities.
“A family member told us that before moving to Thame, Doris served as President of her local al Evergreen Club, and in 1993, she was awarded the gift of Maundy Money from the Queen at Wells Cathedral for services to her village.”
Doris’s daughter, Ann Wright, said today that members of the Scottish side of Doris’s family will be coming down to Thame to celebrate Doris’s 100 years all over again, with a special meal at The Peacock at Henton.
Tickets will also be available on Carnival day, Saturday, on the Thame Round Table’s stall at the Thame fete, Southern Road Rec, after the procession of floats through the town has arrived. There will also be some tickets on sale at the start line on the morning of the race, although in previous years the event has been known to sell out on the day, so it’s best to try and buy tickets in advance if you can.
