Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 07/10/12…..Cracking Cryptics at The Swan, Tetsworth

    THAME Players stalwart, Tony Long, is at it again! He?s been presenting his show, Cracking Cryptics, which is a light-hearted look at the mysteries of solving cryptic crosswords, all over the place in recent weeks.

    He?s played Didcot, Chipping Norton, Camberley, Maidenhead and Swindon. He?s got Potters Bar, Great Torrington and Cirencester coming up, but right on his doorstep he?s performing the show at The Swan Restaurant in Tetsworth.

    The evening includes a delicious three course meal as well as the show, and all this costs only

  • 06/10/12…..Heart-warming tale at Thame Cinema

    MOONRISE KINGDOM – USA 2012, 94 minutes, 12A certificate, Directed by Wes Anderson, Starring Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, Jared Gilman, Jason Schwartzman, Kara Hayward and Tilda Swinton.

    Wes Anderson?s latest is arguably his most genuinely heart-warming film to date ? it has all the hand-made style and wit that characterised everything from Rushmore to Mr Fox, but perhaps with more real affection for its protagonists. A whimsical and poignant tale of teenage misfit love, extreme boy-scouting, and gently dysfunctional grown-ups with their own small crises to deal with, it is set in 1965 on an island off the coast of New England.

    Like those of all the director?s films, this is a world of families and individuals who are like islands in themselves, their eccentric inner lives and domestic habits sealed off from the outside world. Sam is 12 years old, an orphan with a taste for arson and an encyclopaedic catalogue of survival skills. His pen pal Suzy is another loner who spies on grown-ups with her binoculars, and enjoys scifi novels. They are in love and decide to run away together, pursued by a crack squad of vigilante scouts, Suzy?s troubled parents (Murray and McDormand, who in spite of their marital hiatus seem made for each other), and the lonely local law enforcement authority (Bruce Willis, with some of the maverick qualities of his most iconic roles, but with more hesitance and vulnerability).

    All are in thrall to the threat of Social Services ? Tilda Swinton with knife-edge hairdo and laser-sharp tailoring. She represents the authority and scrutiny of an outside world, closing in with her paperwork to remove Sam to an orphanage, threatening to unsettle a little moral and social ecosystem that would prefer to be left alone. All the while, a fierce and climactic storm is brewing… It is very funny and sweetly nostalgic for a more innocent and kinder time and place, and like all Anderson?s films each frame is meticulously composed, sumptuously coloured, and rich with quirky period detail. A joyous delight that will guarantee to leave a smile on your face.

  • 05/10/12……Latest news from Haddenham

    RECORDER GROUP: Haddenham Recorder Consort celebrated its 21st anniversary last month with a delicious meal at Caf

  • 05/10/12…..Poet & author to support marathon read to inspire children

    CHILDREN?S writers will be joining forces with an Oxfordshire charity for a six-hour Readathon in a bid to encourage more children to enjoy books.

    Performance poe,t John Foster, and children?s author, Shen Roddie, will both be taking part in the marathon event at Oxford Central Library, where volunteers will take turns reading aloud to entertain youngsters.

    The event, which runs from 10am until 4pm on Saturday October 20, is being organised for the local charity, Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh), which recruits and trains volunteers who work one-to-one with children in primary schools across the county, inspiring them to develop a love of books and reading. It is being backed by Oxfordshire County Council, which is working to improve literacy throughout the area.

    Oxfordshire County Council Chief Executive, Joanna Simons, and council leader, Ian Hudspeth, have signed up for 15 minute slots with their favourite children?s literature. Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West & Abingdon, will also be taking part.

    Event organiser, Vikki Evans, said: ?We hope the day will help us to raise funds for our vital work in schools, but more importantly, we hope it will encourage adults to read with their children at home.
    Reading with children is so important. It increases their vocabulary, sparks their imagination, gives them valuable one-to-one time with grown-ups, and ? probably most importantly ? it is a springboard towards helping them read themselves.

    ?If the Readathon inspires just one adult to pick up a book and read it with a child, then it will have been worth it! ARCh supports any initiative which encourages children to gain a love of reading and we are pleased that our event is running while there is so much enthusiasm generated by the Oxfordshire Reading Campaign.?

    Anyone who would like to support the Readathon or become an ARCh volunteer should contact the ARCh office by calling 01869 320380 or visit: www.archoxfordshire.org.uk

    MORE ABOUT ARCh

    ARCh is based in Bicester and supports more than 200 volunteers across Oxfordshire. The charity?s work helps 700+ children in around 100 county primary schools.

    Each volunteer completes the ARCh application, interview and checking process and a two day initial training course before being assigned to a school which they visit twice a week, for 90 minutes, sharing books with three children on a one-to-one basis.

    The volunteer works with the same three children for an entire year allowing a strong mentoring relationship to build and to give each child sustained support.

    PHOTO: Courtesy of PBSparents.org

  • 05/10/12…..Deceased man found in burning car identified

    A MAN who was found dead in a burning car near Thame, has been identified as Simon Rowe, 53, from Haddenham Road, Kingsey, near Thame.

    On September 2, the police were called after Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue attended a car fire in a lay-by on the A4129, Risborough Road between Longwick and Kingsey, at round 2.30am.

    The fire crew had discovered a body in the car when they arrived at the scene and called the police.

    The Aylesbury Coroner’s office has not yet ascertained the cause of the Mr Rowe’s death.

  • 04/10/12……Haddenham Singer-songwriter to take Headline Spot at FTMC!

    HADDENHAM based singer/songwriter Toby Dawkins is to take the 10 o?clock Feature Spot at the First Thursday Music Club at the James Figg in Thame, on Thursday, October 4.

    Having started out playing covers at local open mic nights and, more recently, drumming in Aylesbury band The Raketts, Toby has moved up comfortably to centre stage with his acoustic guitar and an ever-growing amount of original material. Drawing influence from a wide variety of artists and musical styles, he is very engaging performer with lots of energy and plenty of crowd involvement. For more details, check out Toby on Facebook at ‘tobydawkinsmusic’ and in Twitter (@tobydawkins).

    The September edition of the FTMC was one of the biggest nights for club. A crowd of 170 saw The Drakes, Strings Attached, 2 AM Blue, Sir Walter J Wallis as well as 10 other acts perform. The First Thursday Music Club is Thame?s biggest monthly music event and is held at The Stables at the James Figg. Anyone can play just by signing up at the venue from 7.45pm.

    Check out the club on Facebook ?The First Thursday Music Club? or at www.firstthursdaymusicclub.com where you can find more info? including contact numbers and addresses for the organisers.

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • 04/10/12…….Town councillor shows his support for local business

    THAME?S Loyalty Card scheme, which aims to support independent retailers in the town, received a boost at Thame Food Festival on Saturday, when another Town Councillor signed up as a member.

    Cllr Mike Welply, who is also a District Councillor, paid over his

  • 04/10/12….Join Thame United for FA Vase family fun

    THAME United will be hosting a Family Fun Day at the ASM Stadium on Saturday, October 13, for their F A Vase, 1st Round Proper tie against Fairford Town FC.

    Thame have progressed to this stage of the F A competition with exciting victories, both by the same 3-2 scoreline, against Clanfield and Buckingham Athletic. Victory over Fairford Town would see them reach the second Round Proper for the first time in a number of years.

    The action will kick off from 1pm when Thame Boys Under 6?s will be providing some pre-match entertainment as well as a penalty shoot-out at half time against a mystery goalkeeper.

    Within the stadium will be a Bouncy Castle to keep the youngsters occupied and, weather permitting, a BBQ.
    Thame will also be running their match day Super draw for which tickets cost only

  • 04/10/12….Thame Utd’s best performance so far

    LEAGUE MATCH -2/10/12 Thame United 3, Newbury 1; MATCH REPORT: Thame United delivered their best performance so far this season at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening (02/10) when they defeated Newbury 3-1. This was no small feat as the visitors occupied third league place whilst United were, and still are, in the lower half of the table; they have however played three games less than Newbury. It was a highly entertaining game which saw some fast, good quality, end- to-end football.

    United opened the scoring with 5 minutes played; Nik Rhodes hit a long ball into the area which struck the inside of the far post and bounced across goal where Luke Ricketts reacted quickly to knock it home pass the startled goalkeeper. The visitors countered and went close when a header hit the Thame post. A few minutes later home keeper Lee Farrow made an outstanding save from a free kick. As the half progressed United began to create more chances than their opponents. Dan West made a great 40-yard run, beating two players only to see his shot deflected into the hands of the grateful keeper. Alex Stewart forced a brilliant save when he met a Ricketts cross with a powerful glancing header. Just before half time Nik Rhodes met a corner and was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar.

    Second half possession was even but Thame continued to create more chances. They increased their lead in the 63rd minute, after a Mitchell Meredith free kick was headed out. Connor Hayes collected the ball and started a slick passing move, involving Nik Rhodes, which created the opportunity for Stuart Barr to thump the ball home from 6-Yards. It was the hardworking Barr who scored United?s third goal five minutes later, by meeting a great cross from Meredith with a quality header, giving the keeper no chance. With six minutes remaining visiting midfielder Ben Mc Cready scored direct from an amazing 35-yard free kick, finding the top right corner of the Thame goal. In the final minute Thame substitute, Niall Hodgkins forced a good save from the Newbury keeper.

    Altogether it was an excellent performance from Thame which, if continued, will lead to a rapid rise in their league position.

    Thame United: Farrow, Meredith, Hall, N Rhodes, Hercules, Hayes, Connelly, West, Stewart (Hodgkins), Barr (Gray), Ricketts.

    United face local rivals Oxford City Nomads at the ASM Stadium next Saturday 6th October (Ko 3.00)

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • 03/10/12…..Thame has a new twin town

    THAME is now officially twinned with the town of Sinaia in Romania, following a signing ceremony in Sinaia itself between the two town’s Mayor.

    The Thame delegation to Sinaia last weekend included the Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods; David Bretherton, Chair of the Sinaia Twinning Committee; Margaret Bretherton, Alison Champken-Woods, Mayoress, and James Green who is Treasurer of the Twinning Committee.

    Nigel Champken Woods said: “We had a fantastic time! The Romanian people were exceedingly friendly and generous. We visited Peles Castle, the Casino – a copy of Monte Carlo now a conference centre, the ski slopes above the town of Sinaia and took part in the ?Sinaia Forever? celebrations.

    “Already school teachers from Thame have visited Sinaia and two of their teachers are coming to Thame later this month. We hope the twinning will go from Strength to Strength.

    PHOTO: The Mayor of Sinaia, Vlad Opera, and the Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champden Woods signing the Twinning agreement between their two towns.