Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 18/07/12…Thame businessman to cycle for sight charity

    THAME businessman and resident, Steve Young, is to undertake a 250km (156 mile) charity cycle ride from his home to Harmer Hill in Shropshire, on July 21. Steve is raising money for international sight-saving charity, ORBIS and the cancer charity MacMillan.

    Steve, 42, who will be undertaking the ride with his friend Andrew Haxton, is mainly a mountain biker but he has been training for his challenge both in his home area and whilst on holiday in Corsica – but the greatest distance he has so far completed is just 88km!

    “I’m hoping we will get to Harmer Hill in under 14 hours – and that the weather will be kind!” Steve commented.

    Steve became aware of the work of the sight-saving charity through a friend who works for the organisation and as well as raising funds to help ORBIS, he will be splitting the money raised between ORBIS and the cancer charity, MacMillan in memory of his grandmother who died of cancer. Steve’s company, Downtown Recruitment, based in Thame, will be donating

  • 18/07/12…..Thame Food Festival set to be a record breaker!

    ?Britain is now re-connecting with its food culture? – Raymond Blanc Ambassador. THAME Food Festival 2012, looks like being even bigger and better that before with the organisers reporting a 50% increase in the number of stallholders already booked to take part in the event.

    This, the fifth Thame Food Festival, will take place in the centre of Thame from 9am onwards in an expanded area across the High Street closed to traffic.

    There will be up to 100 stallholders, with mouth-watering take-away food, a ?Pop-up-Pub? and a cookery theatre for food demos by an amazing line-up of celebrity chefs. Raymond Blanc will be signing copies of his cookery books at the ?Le Manoir aux Quat?Saisons? stall. Live entertainment will feature a concert band, a live music marquee and a tombola stall.

    Food events in the stables of The James Figg public house include wine tasting for beginners and sausage making and there will be food demos, food talks and book signings in the AGA shop. Cream teas and posh kebabs will be served at The Spread Eagle Hotel with crepe and cocktail making demos. Beverley Glock will be hosting Whizz Bang Food: molecular gastronomy and food science classes for children in Thame Town Hall.

    Smoothie Bike Hire, with their awesome custom built smoothie-making bicycle, will also be promoting healthy eating, exercise and sustainable energy for all the family http://www.smoothiebikehire.co.uk/

    Festival ambassador Raymond Blanc will also perform a demo with Kush in the cookery theatre and may even stop for the finale cook-off between Mark and Adam of The Raymond Blanc Cookery School and Harding?s Restaurant at Aylesbury College.

    To see the list of all the wonderful stallholders for the festival, with links, visit the website: LINK including the intriguing concept of the ?Oyster Meister? http://www.oystermeister.com

    Raffle prizes will include a fabulous day at The Raymond Blanc Cookery School, one night?s Bed & Breakfast at The Spread Eagle Hotel, a set of professional Raymond Blanc by Anolon cookware kindly provided by Meyer Group Ltd, as used on the day in the cookery theatre, and a gorgeous food hamper from Thame?s own Harrison Catering.

    The popular Thame Tart competition, where festival goers are invited to make their own version of the sophisticated classic jam tart recipe invented by John Fothergill owner of The Spread Eagle Hotel in central Thame in the 1930?s, will be judged by festival patron Lotte Duncan and the lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Lotte?s amazing book ?Lotte?s Country Kitchen?.

    The star-studded line-up in the cookery theatre is as follows:-

    10:00 ? 10:40 Beverley Glock: Splat Cooking
    10:45 ? 11:25 Laurie Gear of The Artichoke Amersham
    11:30 ? 12.10 Adam Simmonds of Adam Simmonds Danesfield House Marlow
    12:15 ? 12.55 McCormick UK
    13:00 ? 13:40 Raymond Blanc and Kush from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
    13:45 ? 14.25 Lotte Duncan
    14:30 ? 15:10 Marcus Bean
    15:15 ? 15:55 Katie & Giancarlo Caldesi Cucina Contadina
    16:00 ? 16:25 Nigel Rumsey of Rumsey’s Chocolaterie
    16:30 ? 17:15 Mark & Adam from The Raymond Blanc Cookery School v Hardings Restaurant

    Radio Oxford will be broadcasting their early show from the event set-up, interviewing stallholders, organizers and attendees.

    Thanks once again must go to our fantastic sponsors, headline sponsor McCormick UK, South Oxfordshire District Council, Rectory Homes, Aga, Sainsbury?s and The Thatch and The James Figg public houses.

    Please do join us on the day for this wonderful regional celebration of artisan local food and drink produce, to see fabulous local food producers and great local food retailers and to enjoy a fantastic, free, fun packed, family day of food.

    Contact Details:

    www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk

    alison@thamefoodfestival.co.uk

    For PR contact: sally@marketingfoods.co.uk

  • 17/07/12…Thame Leisure Centre apologises for ‘ruined’ concert

    FOLLOWING criticism of the management of Thame Leisure Centre, for ruining a concert because of Health and Safety rules, the centre has issued an apology and promises to employ door stewards in the future. (See previous article)

    In a message to ThameNews.Net this morning, TLC’s General Manager, Duncan Ives, said the following:

    “As you can imagine it is difficult to ensure the security of building the size of Thame Leisure Centre, as such we ask that staff make sure that throughout the building all fire doors are kept closed so that people can only enter and be controlled through the main reception. This is particularly important when we have a large concert taking place as we do need to carefully monitor numbers within the hall to meet the requirements of our Premises Licence, and yes unfortunately this does relate to Health and Safety.

    “I apologise to Julia Greenhough, members of the Festival Chorus and the audience on July 14, if the doors being kept closed caused the hall to become overly warm and stuffy and will ensure with future hirers that door stewards are provided if there is a need to open the rear doors.”

  • 17/07/12..Thame company supports ‘Bank of Dave’

    THE staff of local digital marketing agency, STW Search & Marketing, watched a new Channel 4 documentary last Thursday (12/07) with special interest. They were on the look out for the show?s supporting stars ? two cash machines supplied by their client, leading ATM deployer InfoCash.

    Over two episodes, the ATM?s will play a central role in ?Bank of Dave? which follows the progress of entrepreneur Dave Fishwick who, fed up with stories of greed, corruption and bankers bonuses, sets out to take on the banking industry and prove that there is another, better way to do business. Putting his money where his mouth is, Dave decides to open his own bank to help inject new life into local businesses. With just 180 days to see his bank turn a profit, it?s a huge challenge for a man who, while extremely successful in business, is the first to admit that he knows very little about the banking system.

    Oxfordshire based InfoCash is the third largest ATM deployer in the UK and has been a client of STW for three years. Cat Young of STW said: ?Bank of Dave is an interesting project and it?s great that InfoCash have been selected to be involved. It?s not often that an ATM gets cast for TV, but these cash machines have a key role to play in this experiment.?

    InfoCash supplied Bank of Dave with two cash machines to use in his epic quest. One ATM was installed in the premises Dave used to set up his bank; the other was fitted into a specially converted coach to provide a mobile banking service to customers. Both machines dispensed cash free of charge to users.

    Speaking about his project, Dave Fishwick says, ?There are businesses and individuals out there who are hardworking and honest but through no fault of their own, can no longer get loans. They are being ignored and let down by the banks, while bankers still pay themselves enormous salaries and bonuses. My bank may be tiny but it will be better than a High Street bank. I want to show how banking can be socially responsible and not greedy and reckless and I’m going to do what the High Street banks just can’t bring themselves to do – give away any profits to charity.”

    The documentary promises to be compelling viewing with the possibility of further shows following the fortunes of the businesses that Dave invests his money into ? assuming of course, that Bank of Dave succeeds in taking on the established competition……..

  • 17/07/12…Thame club’s new President aims to make a splash!

    IT’S all change at the top as a man from Towersey who dedicates his spare time to volunteering and fundraising in the local community takes up the reins as president of the Rotary Club of Thame.

    Bob Livings was welcomed as the new president of Rotary Club of Thame on July 6, when he took over from Mo Westcott who led the club?s support towards Nigel Pattison?s Coast to Coast challenge which raised thousands of pounds on behalf of Thame Young Carers in October last year.

    Bob Livings has been a Rotarian for over four years and his commitment to the club has earned the respect of fellow members who were only too pleased to vote him in as their new president for the forthcoming year.

    Bob himself said: ?I am delighted to become the new president of our wonderful club. It?s going to be a very exciting year. Our first edition of the Rotary Swimathon will take place at the Thame Leisure Centre on Sunday, the October 7. As 2012 is an Olympic year, we want to encourage more people to start a sport activity or doing a bit more exercise. We are looking for teams of six people of all ages who are able to swim to raise funds for the Mayor of Thame?s charities (Sharing Life Trust and SERV), Thame & District Day Centre, Air Ambulance, Hearing Dogs and other local causes.

    “We encourage participants to book early to avoid disappointment. Entry forms and details can be found on www.thame.rotaryweb.org or posters in local shops, or by ringing Peter Hook on 07836 651174.

    ?We have a lot of fun and really enjoy ourselves, on top of all the fundraising we do, and would love to hear from anyone interested – either women or men – in joining us and making a real difference to their community.?

    To find out more about the Rotary Club of Thame, or to join, please contact Marius Ciortan on 07764 85 49 49 or visit the website.

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • 17/07/12….Vehicle stolen in Thame – Community Message

    THIS is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.
    Theft of vehicle ? Ormond Road, Thame. Between 17:00hrs on Friday (13/07) and 21:00hrs on Saturday (14/07) offender(s) stole a green Mitsubishi pick up from a private residential car park in Ormond Road, Thame.

    If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area, or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the new national single non-emergency telephone number 101 and state you are responding to a Community message.

    Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

  • 17/07/12….Late Breakfast invitation for Thame businesses

    WHERE? The Eden Suite at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Cornmarket, Thame, from 9am – 10.30am; This month’s meeting is on Thursday, July 19, and is an OPEN NETWORKING event. As usual guests will have the opportunity to promote any forthcoming events they are associated with.

    Please book through the website by 12.00 on Wednesday, July 18, to appear on the guest list or just turn up on the day. Either way the entry fee of

  • 17/07/12…..Have your say on latest changes to plans for future development

    FOLLOWING the most recent public examination hearings about the district council’s ‘Core Strategy’, the Inspector, Mr Roy Foster, has identified some changes he considers should be advertised for public representations to be made.

    These ‘soundness’ related changes will now be published for six weeks period to enable local residents and other interested parties to have their say.

    Representations are invited on the proposed ?main modifications? to the South Oxfordshire Submission Core Strategy set out in the ?main modification? schedule of changes dated July 2012. The changes schedule should be read in conjunction with the South Oxfordshire Submission Core Strategy March 2011 (essentially the December 2010 Proposed Submission version).

    All representations must be received by Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 5pm precisely.

    All the necessary information can be accessed online at: LINK and clicking on the Further Examination Publication link. You can also access a Word version of the comment form online by visiting that link. People are being encouraged to fill in the representation form electronically, either via e-mail or online, as this is the quickest way of responding and also helps ensure that your comments are logged accurately.

    If you have any queries, you can contact the Planning Policy Team via e-mail: planning.policy@southoxon.gov.uk or on 01491 823725.

  • 15/07/12…Concert ‘ruined’ by Leisure Centre rules

    CRITICISM has been levelled at the company which runs Thame Leisure Centre, after an elderly audience member had to be treated by paramedics during a concert there.

    The following Letter to the Editor, from a Committee Member of the the concert organisers, Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus, was received today:

    Dear Editor,

    I am writing to complain about the recently applied policy which forbids the staff of NEXUS Leisure Centre in Thame from opening the back doors of their large Sports Hall.

    Yesterday Thame played host to what should have been a hugely entertaining, proud and enjoyable event. Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus, a local choir with over one hundred members had been very excited to be one of the first amateur choirs to be permitted to sing the latest Karl Jenkins’ piece, The Peacemakers. Led in our performance by John Gibbons, the chair of the British Music Society, weeks of practice had gone into our preparation. Supporting us in the performance were Russian soprano, Anna Gorbachyova and Ealing Symphony Orchestra.

    Our day of rehearsal and evening was almost completely ruined by the sweltering temperatures and stifling heat (on a mild July day) because of some ridiculous rule about the rear doors being left closed at all times. Refunds had to be given at the interval, five members of the audience left early and a paramedic had to be called to assist an elderly member of the audience at the end of the evening.

    After years of being able to open these doors with no detrimental effect from taking such sensible action, we are absolutely stunned that it is considered wise ‘Health and Safety’ action to insist on fresh air being restricted into the building. The staff in the centre are adamant that the ruling has come from South Oxfordshire District Council. I would urge you to look into this – we were at a musical event on a mild evening; what on earth would have happened at a sporting event on a hot night?

    This event should have made our choir and town truly proud of its achievements and ability to attract such renowned talent. Instead I was embarrassed at our complete inability to be reasonable and decent hosts.

    I am not alone in feeling this way and look forward to understanding the view taken by Thame News and its readers, some of whom may also have had recent experience of this latest example of common sense gone mad.

    Yours sincerely

    Julia Greenhough

    Committee Member
    Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus

  • 11/07/12..POSTPONED: Invitation to join renowned wildlife photographer

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER- Date to be arranged. AN evening with Internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer, Ben Hall, is to be held at Towersey Manor Barn, on Saturday, July 14. This will be followed by a Sunday workshop for up to six participants at 8.30am.

    Ben is a regular photographic and editorial contributor to clients as diverse as BBC Wildlife, Practical Photography, Outdoor Photography, Photography Monthly, Professional Photographer, Living Edge, Birds (RSPB)
    and is Vice President of Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

    Contact: Richard Duckham on 01844 214746 evenings;
    077 256 88801 daytime
    Email: rduckham@blsoftware.co.uk
    Event organized by Towcap (Towersey Community Arts Project)