Author: Sonja Francis

THAME’S museum is to become a hive of artistic activity for all ages, when the town takes place in this year’s ‘Big Draw’ events throughout October.
The Big Draw campaign invites everyone to engage with the past, present and future, using drawing. This, the eighth Big Draw, runs from October 1-31, with a special focus on Saturday, October 13.
The programme of events at Thame museum begins on September 19, when a group of Thame artists, called Sparksartists, will give a hands-on talk for parents and other adults, about how to encourage children to look at museums. Heather Hunter, Jackie Nichols and Christine Tacq will share their ideas on inspirational ways of looking at the Thame museum collection. The talk will begin at 7.30pm, and tickets are available from the museum.

Between September 18 and October 28, there will be an exhibition at the museum, called ‘Drawn In’, of works by Sparksartists inspired by drawing from the musuem’s collection, also works by Drawn In, Big Draw participants and The Drawing Exchange.
On October 6 and 7, take part in ‘Drawn To Print’, inspired by the Tudor wall painting in the museum (10am). Draw with a brush, to follow on into print nearby, with monoprints, collographs and an etching press (

THERE has been a recent crime series of thefts of lead and copper from roofs.
The lead is being removed from Church and village hall roofs, and some incidents have been reported effecting pub and house roofs. There have also been thefts reported of commemorative name plaques.

Please be extra vigilant; if you see any suspicious people or vehicles in the area, or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 or 999 for an immediate response.

If you have information, but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

You can contact your local Crime Reduction Advisor at Thames Valley Police for information on security.

Message Ends.

THAME MP, Boris Johnson, met some of the youth of Thame on Friday, when he help to relaunch the town’s revamped Youth Centre, which included an Internet Cafe.
Also there to meet the new London Mayor-elect and to celebrate the latest 21st Century Thame Partnership venture, was the Head of Lord Williams’s School, David Wybron, Alison Isherwood who is the Partnership’s project officer, the Town Clerk, Helen Stewart and Nicholas Francis, who runs the Thame Youth Centre in Towersey Drive, Thame, and who was responsible for organising the event.

LONDON Mayor elect, and Thame MP, Boris Johnson, visited Thame today to lay the foundation stone for the latest development for retired people in Thame.
The new development was named Summersbee Court after the late Steve Summersbee who did so much for the town during his lifetime.
Chair of the Thame and District Housing Association, Ann Midwinter, welcomed Steve’s widow, June and his family and thanks them for allowing his name to be honoured in this way.
In welcoming Boris Johnson, Ann said: “He is a man who does an outstanding job who works hard looking after his constituents and so admired by all ages. I attended a youth forum with him and if they had there way they would have crowned him King! But he is standing for the Mayor of London instead, and we wish him well if this happens.
“London’s gain will sadly be our loss.”

Photo: Boris Johnson with the Mayor of Thame, David Bretherton, his wife Margaret, and 95 year-old Thame war hero, Arthur Staggs, who lives in Pearce Court.

After learning that he had been elected by the Conservative Party to fight again Ken Livingstone for Mayor of London, Boris said: “?As I visited all of London?s 32 boroughs in the last few weeks, the message is loud and clear ? King Newt?s days are numbered. Across London I?ve met people fed up with paying so much to city hall and getting so little in return.
?The job of the Mayor is simple – to get people to work on time, to ensure people feel safe on the streets, to help people find a place to call home, to celebrate our diversity and to champion our success.
?My determination to lead this city is stronger than ever. After seeing both the good and bad that London has to offer, I am committed to making London greater and standing up for every Londoner that invests so heavily in our city.
?I want to be a Mayor for all Londoners, from Zone 6 to Zone 1. A Mayor that will listen, will learn and will lead.?