Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • What’s coming up in Haddenham? (from July 10 , 2010)

    JULY
    Sat 10th Jazz Picnic. Haddenham Village Society has announced regretfully that it has had to cancel this year?s annual Jazz Picnic due to insufficient tickets being sold.

    Sun 11th Breakfast Service. Judy Thorp(e) from Action for Children (formerly known as the National Children?s Home) is the speaker at the Methodist Church breakfast service (9.45am). All are welcome. A collection will be taken for the charity at the service.

    Tues 13th Dementia Forum. A new monthly service for carers and people suffering from dementia is starting on Tuesday (2.30-3.40pm) at Haddenham Medical Centre, Stanbridge Rd and continues on the second Tuesday of each month. If you or a loved one suffers from dementia, you can ask questions or voice concerns about what help is or is not available for you. The forum will be supported by professionals (Carers Bucks in association with Brendoncare Chiltern View) and others who have experience in the journey you are taking on. For enquiries about the group please contact Mike Tullett on 01296 747463.

    Wed 14th Open Evening. Haddenham Community Infant School?s Curriculum Fortnight this year was on the theme ?A Life like Mine, How Children Live?. The school?s Curriculum Open Evening (6.30-8pm) will give interested villagers a chance to see what the children have been learning through this topic and see a recording of their performance of The Jungle Book.

    Thurs 15th Composting Talk. Transition Haddenham and Transition Thame & District Permaculture Group have organised an evening on Composting (7.30pm) at the Rose and Thistle Pub.

    ?Most gardeners have a compost heap and it is recognised to be the most efficient way of providing soil nutrients, but what makes good compost? We will look at different methods and their advantages and disadvantages, various materials you can compost and some of the more obscure methods. Simple composting is a very energy efficient means of producing plant fertiliser and is available to everyone.?

    Local Master Composter Keith Broadey will give an entertaining presentation on ?Composting for All?. Entrance free but donations welcome. For more information on Transition Haddenham contact 01844 296174.

    Fri 16th Concert. A concert by the Manor House String Quartet, ‘Invitation to the Dance’, will be held at St Mary?s Church (7.15 for 7.30pm). Although the quartet – Vaughan Jones and Louise Bevan (violins), Adrian Smith (viola) and Julia Graham (cello) – have quite an established following in other villages in the Vale, this is the first time they?ve played in Haddenham. At this themed concert they will take a light hearted journey through the minuets and gavottes of the 18th century, exploring tangos, polkas, jigs, reels and much more. The programme will include popular classics and well loved pieces such as Tchaikovsky?s Waltz from Swan Lake, Faure?s Pavane, Ravel?s Bolero, Offenbach?s Can Can and Monti?s Czardas as well as many pieces inspired by dance and the folk tradition from around the world. Tickets are

  • Chinnor RFC clubhouse in fine fettle for new season

    AS the rugby season kicks off again at Chinnor Rugby Club, the clubhouse and grounds will be in good condition, thanks to the Friday club.

    A group of volunteers who meet every week throughout the year come rain, or shine – or even ice!

  • The Gruffalo is coming to town! (Status: Press release)

    WHERE? The Festival Dance House, Towersey near Thame. WHEN? Sunday, August 29, 2010, at 3pm, as part of the awesom Toweresey Festival!

    Don?t miss the hit musical adaptation of the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. ?A modern classic? The Observer

    Following another sell-out run in the West End this Christmas, Tall Stories? live stage adaptation of the best-selling picture book The Gruffalo is back on UK tour and coming to Oxfordhsire!

    Touring internationally since 2001, this magical musical adaptation of the best-selling picture book, The Gruffalo has been performed to over a million people the world over!
    The award-winning book was recently voted the nation?s number one bedtime story by BBC Radio 2 listeners and even hit the small screens on Christmas Day in a star-studded TV adaptation on BBC1!
    Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep dark wood? meet a wheeler-dealer Fox, an eccentric old Owl, a maraca-shaking, party-mad Snake! Mouse can scare these hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo, but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined??
    The Gruffalo is packed full with songs, laughs and fun for children aged 3 to 103!

    The unique summer setting of The Festival Dance House in Towersey, near Thame is the perfect place to see this great family show. This huge marquee venue provides plenty of room to bring a blanket and cushions, spread out, bring some nibbles for your picnic (but don?t let the Gruffalo smell them!) and enjoy the show in the unique setting of this summer theatre in a marquee.

    Watch a sneak preview online at www.gruffalolive.com

    ?Tall Stories have transformed a well-loved story into an exuberant, funny show? Time Out

    ?A rare treat to find a show that really is for all the family? The List *****
    ?Irresistibly charming? The Times
    ?An absolute delight? The Scotsman
    ?Monstrous fun? Daily Mail

    Order your tickets now on 01629 827016 or online at

  • 07/07/10..All change at the top for Thame Rotary (Submitted)

    THE Rotary Club of Thame celebrated the end of its Presidential Year by the retiring President Peter Todd handing over to Peter Hook end with Maureen Westcott taking the position of President Elect for next year. This was followed by the presentations of cheques to local and international charities which included six local Thame charities. The photograph shows Mary-Anne Osborne receiving a cheque for the Thame Health Centre.

  • 06/07/10…Best re-cycling rates in the country? (Status: Press release)

    RESIDENTS in South Oxfordshire have been praised for what has been called, a “simply stunning” first full year of a new recycling and rubbish collection service that achieved a recycling and composting rate averaging around 70%, thought to be the best in England.

    The service, estimated to have saved around

  • Composting for all

    JULY 15, 2010 – Composting for All – talk by Transition Thame & District, Rose & Thistle pub, Haddenham,

    More information from:
    transitionthame@googlemail.com

    IMAGE: Courtesey of www2.grist.org

  • Chinnor man convicted after Thame assault

    A CHINNOR man has been given a conditional discharge, following an assault in Thame, in November, 2009.

    Jason Light, 26, of Lower Icknield Way, Chinnor, was recently convicted of Assault by beating, following an icident in Thame on November 27.

    As well as the 12-month conditional discharge, Jason Light was ordered to pay

  • Car crime down and other good news from Thame PCSOs

    THAME’S Police Community Support Officers, Diane Jackson and Lucy Thorne, have issued their latest Thame neighbourhood update:

    Crime mapping shows that vehicle crime related incidents for the last three months up to May this year, in comparison with the same period last year, have decreased by 27.3 percent. This is due to the hot-spot areas having high visibility patrols and the Pub Watch scheme, as well as partner agencies all working together.

    Anti-social behaviour (ASB) info:

    Throughout June we have received reports of ASB relating to dog walking in the grass/park areas including the Elms Park and Southern Road Recreation area. We would like to remind people that dogs should be on leads.

    We are still receiving complaints of littering in Southern Road Rec. Can we please remind you all that bins are there for a reason; please use them for your litter once you have used the public areas. We are able to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of

  • Burglar steals laptop, TV, cash and cards

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a burglary at a house in Hilltop Lane, Chinnor, yesterday evening (1/7/10).

    Between 6.15pm and 7.15pm, offenders got into the house through the rear conservatory door and searched the property. The thieves stole a Phillips laptop, a Samsung 42 inch television, various jewellery, and cash and bank cards. The total value of property stolen is around

  • 02/07/10…TAL festival bursts on to Thame’s social calendar

    THAME’S inaugural Arts & Literature Festival has been hailed a tremendous success after some 1,450 festival goers attended 30 events involving 40 visiting
    authors, a classical music concert, two art shows and a brand new rock-musical.

    For those of us who were away on holiday or missed the festival for various reasons, here for Thamenews.net, are the festival highlights from co-founder and festival organiser, Yvonne Maxwell.

    “Over a hundred children came to see Steve Cole on the
    Friday morning, June 25, after which the adults were
    bowled over by Prof John Sutherland?s literary
    sleuthing and Nick Barratt?s stories of the Lost
    Voices of the Titanic.

    Phyllida Law being interviewed by Bruce Alexander was simply wonderful and John Fox?s tale of local heroine, Jane Whorwood, had us terrified and fascinated in equal measure. Vincent Strudwick delivered the Founder?s Lecture on John Hooker and his enormous book, in his inimitable style being both challenging and amusing.

    “Friday finished with victory for the Oxfam Bookshop team at the Literary Quiz which was compiled and run by quizmaster extraordinaire, Richard Balkwill.

    “Saturday?s delights began with Emma Chichester Clark and lots of children in the town hall and we were particularly pleased to be invited to Rycote Manor
    Barn where Alison Weir brought us the amazing story of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

    “Our Crime Panel of Barry Forshaw, SJ Bolton and Veronica Stallwood was very well received by a very
    knowledgeable and appreciative audience as our three writers discussed their works and inspirations. In the Museum, Sandra Smith looked at moving from Pen to Publication while Marilyn Yurdan talked about keeping your own personal history.

    The afternoon was rounded off in the Stables at
    the James Figg where no less than five romantic fiction writers held court over a glass of bubbly, tea and a cup-cake. Catherine Jones, Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews, Judy Astley and Sara Craven brought us a feast of fiction with humorous readings and recollections. What better way to spend an afternoon!”

    Thame’s own “Chick-lit” queen, Catherine Jones, aka Kate Lace, who chaired Tea with the Romantic Novelists, said afterwards: “Romance, pink fizz and cup-cakes – what could be a better combination on a fabulous summer’s afternoon? The romantic novelists themselves were thrilled to bits at the wonderful audience who eschewed Wimbledon, the weather, Glastonbury and the World Cup to hear them talk about their books and their writing. Afterwards they were all happy to sign copies of their books for their fans.”