Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 06/07/11…..Peter Andre Thame carnival prog to be shown soon

    THE TV show, featuring Peter Andre and this year’s Thame Carnival, will be shown at the beginning of August.

    The show, called Here To Help, will see Peter Andre and his team “offering a helping hand to the Great British public” in six episodes. ITV2 has commissioned the six-part series from CAN TV called Here To Help, which will feature Thame in programme five.

    The first of the series will be shown on Thursday, July 14, at 9pm on ITV2.

    Peter Andre and his team pitched up suddenly on the Wednesday before the carnival, surprising the organising team at Brothers Hair salon, who had pitched to the TV company for Thame to be involved. It was a closely guarded secret even from them which towns had been successful.

  • 06/07/11…Born to create – Thame talent on sale

    TWO creative sisters from Thame, Sam and Kim Osborne, have caught the eye of Thame town council, who have agreed to sell their greetings cards in the town hall information centre.

    The girls’ fun designs are all taken from original illustrations by Kim and Sam, many of them printed by hand using the familiar method of printmaking called linocut.

    The sisters have lived in Thame since 1990 and both attended Lord Williams School where they studied A-Level art. After leaving school each studied art and design diplomas and went on to complete degrees in graphic design at separate universities. Since returning to the town both of them have worked in the graphic design sector but recently decided to take the plunge and go freelance. Though working on separate design and illustration projects, whilst pursuing their love of printmaking and creating cards and prints, Sam and Kim sell together at craft fairs and online.

    They told ThameNews.Net: ?We are thrilled to be selling at the Town Hall in Thame. It means that we have a permanent place for people to pop into to pick up our cards, which is great.”

    “We are passionate about our designs and like to offer people something a little bit different,? said Sam. ?We both grew up surrounded by creative people and our passion for the arts was really fostered by the great
    teachers at the art department at Lord Williams school, so it means a lot to us for our designs to now be on sale in the town,? added Kim.

    The sisters will be adding designs to the range they are selling regularly, so you can always pop in and find something new. Look out for a Thame-themed range of designs which will include illustrations of iconic Thame buildings and local landmarks. They are also keen to sell a greater range of products in more local
    venues, so keep an eye out when your next in town! You can also visit www.same-osborne.co.uk or www.thisisknockout.co.uk for news, information or to shop online.

    Thame Information Centre at the Town Hall is open Monday to Wednesday 9am to 5pm, Thursday 9.30am to
    5pm, Friday 9am to 4.30pm.

  • 05/07/11….Rewarding shoppers’ loyalty can benefit market towns

    A new report shows how small towns and independents can benefit from schemes that reward local shopping.

    A national charity representing small towns has launched new research showing a range of Loyalty Card techniques and technology which towns can use to promote independent shops.

    The Local Loyalty report reviews a range of loyalty schemes which have been adopted in a selection of market towns and small towns in the UK. It looks in detail at the cards available and wider loyalty scheme options, and will help those considering implementing a scheme in their town or across towns in their local authority area, to make an informed choice of approach and technology. It will also help towns who already have a shop local scheme or loyalty card consider how it may evolve and be sustainable long term.

    Details of Thame’s new Loyalty Card scheme: LINK

    The report is published by amt-i, a social enterprise and the consultancy division of the national charity Action for Market Towns which works with 400 member towns across the country to maintain local services and re-vitalise the high street.

    Hannah Bowden, amt-i?s Business development manager and the author of the report, said:”Making a local loyalty scheme work isn?t easy but loyalty cards are a catalyst for change that are sweeping our towns and levelling the playing field between independent and national retailers. They are a positive way forward in uncertain times and offer our market towns a fighting chance.?

    The report was published yesterday to coincide with Independents? Day ? a national day on which the public were encouraged to buy at least one item from their local, independent shop.

    The Local Loyalty Report can be downloaded at LINK (it is FREE to download until 15 July 2011 after which date it will be free for AMT members and

  • 07/07/11..Thame open mic club goes multi-media

    YEH! Its that time of the month again! The Thame First Thursday Music Club Open Mic night is on Thursday, July 7, at The Stables (behind The James Figg, Cornmarket, Thame).

    And they’ve gone multi-media! Those of you at the May FTMC will have noticed a suspicious tall guy stalking around the club with a very impressive looking camera and obligatory all black t-shirt and jeans outfit. That was the very talented Gary O’Brien who was making the new club video (which we hope you have already clicked on and watched?). We think it looks great and that Gary has perfectly captured the brief to convey the friendly, buzzy atmosphere and the quality and variety of the music we have. The idea is that if you are inviting someone to come down and watch, or even play, they can have a look at what we do and get a sense of how it feels.

    LINK

    Clubfounder, Jon Littler, says: “Do Come down next Thursday; I think we have some great players coming up form Bristol who we met whilst running the acoustic stage at Music in Elms Park Festival. As usual we are hosting a totally free night of varied music (15 minutes per performer – you never know who your gonna get) at the Stables behind the James Figg Public House, 21 Cornmarket, Thame (Go through the Arch besides the pub!) OX9 2BL.”

  • 05/07/11….German students welcomed by Thame mayor

    A GROUP of students from Bonn, Germany, were welcomed to Thame this morning by the Mayor of Thame, David Bretherton.

    The group are from the Friedrich Ebert Gymnasium in Bonn and this is the 27th year of the exchange between their school and Lord Williams’s.

    This morning the group strolled around Thame market and during the next couple of days will, along with their two accompanying teachers, Herr Schreiber and Frau Rosenthall, visit Oxford and spend a day site-seeing in London.

  • 30/07/11….Your high street needs you!

    THE date that commemorates American independence, will have a different meaning this year in the high streets of our market towns.

    On July 04, across the country, the public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local, independent shop to keep the high street alive.

    Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail have teamed up with independent retailers and trade associations around the country to encourage the public to celebrate diversity on the high street and support their local, independent retailers on July 04. Retailers can download the ?Your high street needs you!? poster online, ?like? the campaign on Facebook and follow it on twitter.

    Fresh data from Local Data Company?s surveys of 2,700 UK retail destinations (out of a potential 4,400 total UK destinations), highlights that high street vacancy rates have started to rise again. The Local Data Company states that 14.6% of outlets are now vacant. This indicates that approximately 50,000 units are now not currently open to business on the UK high streets, showing just how challenging the situation is on the ground.

    Chris Wade, Chief Executive of Action for Market Towns (AMT), said: ?AMT works with 400 member towns across the country to maintain local services and re-vitalise the High Street. We need to keep our town centres as vibrant places where everyone can do business.

    ?Our simple message is, one good shop cannot save the High Street but a handful working together maybe can. We are supporting Independents? Day 2011 and encouraging our members to support it too.?

    Anne Seaman, Chief Executive of Skillsmart Retail said: ?We are delighted to lead this campaign and support small retailers. Raising awareness amongst the public is one of the biggest challenges smaller retailers face and our message is about encouraging the public to use their local high street and understand how important a diverse retail sector is.

    It?s also essential that local retailers understand that to compete today they need to be top of their game. The time for sitting back has passed and action is required: Your high street needs you!?

  • 04/07/11…..Elite athletes & locals sign up for Thame Triathlon

    ENTRIES for this year’s Thame Triathlon is expected to exceed 350 ranging form beginners to elite triathletes who compete nationally.

    The event will begin with the swimming at Thame Leisure Centre, followed by the cycling which will take competitors from there to chinnor and back, 11 miles, and end with a run of 5k along the Phoenix Trail and back, all finishing in the school playing fields at Lord Williams’s Upper school.

    The event is very popular with local residents, and those wanting to try out a shorther triathlon in their local Town should give it a try. The cycle route travels through Thame high street out to Chinnor.

    Those taking part include the developer of the ithame app, Andy MacDonald, who says: “I am looking to improve on my position of 56th to make the top 50. Not bad for a vet!”

    For more information about the Thame Triathlon, visit: http://www.justracinguk.com/event/thame-triathlon-pool-sprint-0

  • 04/07/11….What’s On in Haddenham in July?

    Mon 4th Haddenham Parish Council. The council?s last meeting before the summer break will be in the Walter Rose Room (7.30pm). Parishioners are welcome to attend.
    Wed 6th Simply Walk. Meet at Banks Park car park (10.30am) for a walk lasting about 1

  • Local artists open studios event – June 18- July 3

    WITH the date of this year?s Bucks Open Studios art extravaganza fast approaching, artists and makers across Buckinghamshire, including many from Haddenham, are no doubt beavering away, creating beautiful, unique, inspirational paintings, sculptures, collages, ceramics, drawings, altered books and a whole lot more.

    Bucks Open Studios takes place from 18 June to 3 July 2011 and is the largest visual arts event in the county. In the last two weeks of June every year over 480 artists and makers, in over 182 different venues across Buckinghamshire, open their studios and run exhibitions and events for the public to visit. This year is the biggest ever with a record number of participants, venues and new entrants.

    For two weeks Buckinghamshire turns into a celebration of art. The Directories for this year?s Bucks Open Studios are now out so make sure you grab your copy. It?s yellow and blue in colour and really stands out head and shoulders above other leaflets and programmes on display. It?s taller than the others so no excuse for not spotting it. This year Haddenham seems to be a real hub of artistic activity with over 19 artists and crafts people taking part. If you have a directory check numbers 175 to 192. You?ll find everything from painters, jewellery makers, basket weavers, photographers, patchwork and stitchers, woodturning, sculptors, book makers… I could go on.

    It?s almost impossible to pick a few from this amazing collection. However, of note are:

    Alison Court ? Recycled hand-made bags. Alison makes by hand bags of all kinds from recycled and reclaimed fabrics. The whole ethic of her bags is that virtually nothing is new – everything comes from friends’ attics, charity shops, and her own cupboards. She wants them to be virtually zero carbon bags – bags for our time, when at last we are all being a bit more environmentally-minded! She is part of a group who are showing ceramics and jewellery; Rachel Craft, Tiny van der Velde, at the Baptist Church in Haddenham.

    Heather Hunter and Jean Mould Hart ? Paper, print and book makers. There is always something happening in Heather’s small studio. Visiting artist Jean, new works, garden access for a small charge each day. No 186 in the directory.

    Ed and Jenny Bullimore ? husband a wife team exhibition photography on canvass to enthral the eye, ceramics and sculptures. (No. 183 and 184 in the directory)

    Anne Ratnarajh who is a basket weaver and also works with other mixed media. She?s the only one I?ve got a good high res image for.

    Click HERE for a full list of the Haddenham artists taking part, and HERE for full details of the Bucks Open Studios event.

  • 01/07/11….Thame Show Tickets on sale

    TICKETS for this year’s Thame Show on Saturday, July 30, are on sale at the Information Centre, Thame Town Hall.

    Advance tickets are priced at