Thame Out Winter 2015 Issue 36

Thame Out The complimentary magazine for the Thame area – Now in our 11th year

Winter 2015 Issue 36

Indian getaway Rajasthan, the perfect introduction to India

Figuratively speaking Rediscovering the lost art of figurative painting: Peregrine Heathcote

Lets talk turkey In conversation with top local butcher, Tom Newitt

Tread with care Winter tyre advice from Thame Service Station

Wake up to local jobs Sleepy Hollow’s, Travelodge head office: looking for new employees LEISURE * BEAUTY * HOME * TRAVEL * LOCAL * COMPETITIONS * AND LOTS MORE *

Witney

THAME OUT *

Contents

4. LOCAL NEWS –Local Author, Thame Food Festival and Oxford Christmas Market.

8. HEALTH & BEAUTY – Expert Eye and Skin care, Personal Training, and Health Regime.

18. FASHION & LIFESTYLE – Kismet Jewellery, Gallant Menswear, White Hart Studio, Thame Jewellery Workshop, Paul Wilkinson and local artist, Peregrine Heathcote.

26. TRAVEL – India with Spear Travels.

36. HOME & GARDEN –Ridgeway Kitchens and Kingsey Kitchens 38. EDUCATION – Rye St Antony School and Ashfold School.

44. FOOD & DRINK – Wine Column, Newitt’s the Butchers and The Pointer, Brill 52. BUSINESS – Thame Service Station and Travelodge.

60. ENTERTAINMENT – New Theatre and Oxford Playhouse.

64. LISTINGS 66. COMPETITIONS

How to reach more customers To advertise in Thame Out magazine Call: 01844 216847 or Email: julian@red-l.co.uk

See the website: www.thameout.co.uk

Thame Out The complimentary magazine for the Thame area

Spring 2014 Issue 29 Now in our 9th year

Bloom time

at Waterperry Gardens

Greek 0dyssey

Trips around the Islands of Greece

Making her point

On the doorstep Local property with Hamnett Hayward

We talk to Acupuncturist Rhiannon Griffiths

Polished performers Nearly new cars from Thame Service Station

LEISURE * BEAUTY * HOME * TRAVEL * LOCAL * COMPETITIONS * AND LOTS MORE *

Thame Out The complimentary magazine for the Thame area

Autumn 2009 Issue 11

Delivery people required for Long Crendon and Thame Good rates of pay Thame Out Carr parked in Oxford Jimmy Carr at the New Theatre

Grape taste

Corking wines at Wines Unfurled

Magic of the Middle East

What makes Syria a fantastic holiday destination

Truly engaging

Gorgeous bridal gowns and beautiful wedding rings

LEISURE ☛ BEAUTY ☛ HOME ☛ TRAVEL ☛ LOCAL ☛ COMPETITIONS ☛ AND LOTS MORE ☛

The complimentary magazine for the Thame area – Now in our 10th year

Call: 01844 216847 or Email: julian@red-l.co.uk

Summer 2015 Issue 34

A garden blooms Turn End in Haddenham opens to the public

Such good taste

Indian and Lebanese cuisine from the House of Spice

Live drawing

Art in Action comes to Waterperry

Heart breaks

Romantic getaways to Dubai and the Maldives

Good times

Seiko watches at Kismet Jewellers

In tune

Boosting brain power with Thame Institute of Music

LEISURE * BEAUTY * HOME * TRAVEL * LOCAL * COMPETITIONS * AND LOTS MORE *

Cover: Peregrine Heathcote See page 30.

Thame Out

Opinions expressed in Thames Out Magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher and the magazine is in no way liable for any such opinion.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this publication is correct, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within. No part of this publication including any article, advertisement or graphic in whole or part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers. The company nor its agents accept any liability for loss or damage of manuscripts photographs and any other materials submitted to the magazine.

Copyright ©2015 Red Letter

Published by Red Letter, 25 Southern Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2EE 01844 216847 Email: julian@red-l.co.uk www.thameout.co.uk

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LOCAL NEWS *

Glitter stalls The city of dreaming spires will again be filled with festive joy as the Oxford Christmas Market returns to the heart of the city on beautiful and historic Broad Street.

With the sound of choirs singing Christmas carols, market traders offering unusual and handmade gifts, colourful decorations brightening wooden stalls and the aroma of mulled wine and cinnamon drifting in the air - a visit to the Oxford Christmas Market is a truly magical Christmas experience.

​Oxford Christmas Market 10 - 20 December

Leading (crossword) man Tony Long is a very active member of Thame Players he also runs a crossword business, which provides personalised gift cards based around a crossword with the recipient’s name as one of the clues. Tony also does a presentation on solving cryptic crosswords, called Cracking Cryptics: a light-hearted look at the mysteries of cryptic crosswords. Those who attend this event can buy a copy of Tony’s book, The Cracking Cryptics Guide to solving cryptic crosswords, which has just been produced in an updated edition.

For more information or to order Tony’s book or personalised crosswords call 01844 281562 or go to www.personalcrosswords.com

b COMPETITION Win a FREE

SIGNED copy of Tony’s book.

See page 66.

4. Thame Out

A feast for food lovers The historic market town of Thame was buzzing in late September when its streets were filled with foodies who had travelled from far and wide to enjoy the eighth annual Thame Food Festival. More than 25,000 of them flocked to the town to make this year’s festival the biggest and most successful yet.

Now ranked as the largest free food festival in the country, Thame Food Festival is a true celebration of local and artisan food.

This year saw 207 stalls, each packed with an amazing array of locally produced food and drink, two stages to watch talented chefs in action and the festival’s first ever cookery challenge, The Big Thame Bake.

Festival patron Lotte Duncan, who like the chefs taking part in the event, and the band of directors and volunteers supporting it give their time for nothing to put on the free festival, said that this year’s had surpassed everyone’s expectations.

“The atmosphere this year was simply stunning,” said Lotte. “We were completely bowled over by how many people came to Thame and the appreciation they showed for what they found. Everyone who came loved the good food and drink that was on offer, the fabulous producers, the chefs and experts they listened and talked to, and really got into the festival spirit.

Everyone was smiling, laughing and having a brilliant time,” she said.

Many stall holders reported selling out.

Another major draw was being able to see familiar foodie faces in action, people like Natalie Coleman from BBC One’s Masterchef, and Frances Quinn, Luis Troyano, Miranda Gore-Browne and Howard Middleton from the Great British Bake Off. They were joined by chefs from closer to home including

Raymond Blanc, Sophie Grigson, Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi and Lucie Greenwood.

“It makes me very proud, and also very emotional, to look at what we put on for the community and for the town and how people get behind it,” continued Lotte.

“It takes a huge amount of work - indeed hundreds of hours of organisation - but it’s really worth it when people come to Thame and get involved, supporting our local producers and giving to good local causes by baking for the Big Thame Bake.

As well as supporting the local economy and great local producers, the festival also did its bit for good causes in Thame through its first charity baking challenge, The Big Thame Bake. More than 120 talented bakers rose to the occasion, bringing their creations to be judged on the day by experts from the baking world including local food writer and Big Thame Bake organiser Jane Hornby and the newly formed Thame Belles WI. Standards across each of the ten categories were very high, with the bakers giving the judges plenty to think about. The overall winner and Best Baker, for a batch of faultless strawberry almond tartlets was Vibeke Jepsen from Maidenhead, who took home a fantastic prize of a KitchenAid Artisan Mixer with a full set of accessories worth £1000, generously donated by Harts of Stur and KitchenAid. The Thame Food Festival is a community event run by the community for the community. For more details, or to get involved by sponsoring or supporting next year’s festival, please go to www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk.

High Street on a high Child development Are Retained Reflexes holding your child back?

Could Neuro Developmental Therapy help?

Nowadays more and more children are being labelled with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD’s), ADD & ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, sensory processing disorders etc.

Meanwhile many struggle with non-specific difficulties such as classroom learning, movement control, social interactions, concentration and even emotional maturity.

Many of these ‘labels’ have a medical reference, which some people find helpful, however the terms merely describe a set of symptoms. In my work there is very often a simple explanation for these difficulties and that is the presence of ‘Retained Reflexes’.

What are Retained Reflexes and why do they have such an impact?

In the womb and early stages of life, we are equipped with a number of reflexes to ensure the survival of the newborn, for example, grasping and sucking. As the new-born develops, the brain begins to mature and take control, so these early reflexes are no longer needed and must inhibit.

If, however, these reflexes fail to inhibit they can have a huge impact on appropriate function and therefore a child may display immature patterns of behaviour – lacking appropriate emotional, social and behavioural responses, difficulty in classroom learning and balance and coordination issues, and explains why a seemingly intelligent child struggles to learn and thrive as others do.

What signs of retained reflexes would I have seen as a parent?

It’s often evident at the early key stages of development when the child has deviated from the norm. We often see difficult or delayed birthing, feeding/latching issues, failure to crawl, delayed teething or speech, being easily startled, unusual sleep patterns, fussy eating, thumb suckers, toewalkers, late in becoming ‘dry’ or bedwetting. The most common feedback we get from parents is ‘I could always tell something wasn’t quite right’ – after all there is no better expert than a parent!

Thame High Street has today been named as one of ten Rising Stars in the Great British High Street Competition 2015.

Recently the nationwide competition revealed the twenty-one best high streets in Britain – three finalists in each of seven categories. Winners in each of these categories will get a share of a prize pot worth £80,000.

This includes expert training and tips from Google’s training task force for one hundred shops, bars and restaurants per category.

Although Thame High Street just missed out on the final, the judging panel were so impressed by the great strides the community in Thame has made in improving their high street that they awarded them a special Rising Star award and £1000 cash, putting the High Street firmly on the map. The judges were particularly impressed by Thame’s use of social media to promote the town.

Nichola Dixon, the Mayor of Thame, said: “Thame High Street is the heart of our town, and we’re very proud that it has been recognised as a Rising Star in this national competition. This will be a real boon for the town.

Thame High Street has also just been nominated as one of the Top Ten Greatest Places in England in a competition being run by the Royal Institute of Town Planners, so we are absolutely delighted to receive this second accolade from the Great British High Streets’ judging panel. We will continue to do all we can to continue to make Thame High Street a destination of choice, and to be chosen as a winner in next year’s competition.”

The Great British High Street Competition 2015 – sponsored by Boots, Costa, Post Office, Marks & Spencer and Tesco – is now in its second year and supports those working to adapt, revive and diversify high streets. Not for profit and government-funded, the Great British High Street aims to provide resources for high street regeneration and celebrate innovative work going on in high streets across Britain.

What is the treatment?

At the initial one hour consultation we assess the function of the central nervous system and look for evidence of the reflexes. If appropriate we then put in place a Neural Stimulation Programme which is performed at home, twice daily and then reviewed 6 weeks later.

For further info please contact: Jo Rodhouse 07802 614735 or jo@jo-rodhouse.co.uk (Thame Therapy Clinic)

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LOCAL NEWS *

Paul in print Multi award winning, Haddenham based photographer Paul Wilkinson has launched his new book Mastering Portrait Photography.

Co-authored with Sarah Plater, this fresh and modern approach shows how important it is to capture the subject’s emotion and personality. This authoritative guide discusses essential aspects of photography and how natural light colour and movement affect a photograph. Along with advice on using artificial light, there are tips on pre-shoot presentation; such as building rapport and choosing locations, post production techniques and colour correction. The book contains over 200 images with tips and advice on how Paul creates his award winning pictures.

The recommended retail price is £19.99. It’s available from all major book stores and makes the perfect present for the enthusiastic photographer.

Paul’s studio in Haddenham has a limited number of signed copies, to find out more visit www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk

Boss of the fairway

A High Wycombe golfer will have no excuse for missing his next tee-time after winning a limitededition BOSS watch for achieving a hole-in-one.

Martyn Dale, 31, scored his ace on the 176-yard, par-three 12th at Harleyford GC, and the 12-handicapper was rewarded with membership of the exclusive BOSS Watches H1Club and a specially commissioned, commemorative timepiece.

He said: “I hit a 21-degree hybrid which went through the air and landed two feet from the hole, took one hoop and went in. This is my second hole-in-one – my first was on October 25th last year on the same course.”

The luxury German brand has once again pledged to reward club golfers with an exclusive watch for every hole-in-one recorded during a club competition in 2015, after giving away more than £1.5m-worth of limited-edition timepieces since its launch in 2013 – and Dale is among the latest to achieve the feat this year.

HAIR DAMAGE IS SO YESTERDAY! Maze are proud to announce the introduction of FIBREPLEX a superb oil treatment that prevents damage to the hair during colouring. One of the few salons locally to use FIBREPLEX, we are really impressed with this great new product.

Phone: 01844 218215 Email: Salon@mazehair.com Twitter: @mazehair Facebook www.facebook.com/mazehair Maze Hair Salon 11 Friday Court North Street Thame Oxfordshire OX9 3GA

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Greens Furnishings

Haberdashery Needles ` Threads ` Buttons ` Zips ` Ribbon ` Elastic ` Scissors ` Patchwork & Quilting Accessories ` Patchwork Fabrics ` Needlework Kits ` DMC Threads ` Beads ` Felt ` Craft Accessories ` Trimming & Lace ` Anchor Tapestry Wools ` Janome Sewing Machines

And new to Greens are: ` Sirdar Knitting Wool and Patterns. ` Knitting & Crochet Accessories. ` Knitting Bags & Sewing Boxes.

4&5 Upper High St, Thame, Oxon OX9 3ES Tel: 01844 212560 email: greenfurnishings@btconnect.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY *

Andrew Cohen visits Thame optometrist Ivan Cammack to test drive a pair of glasses designed to help us cope better with tricky road conditions.

Safety feature F

or all the electronic sophistication of modern cars, for all their computer-aided engineering, there is one component more important to safe driving than any other. And that’s the person sat behind the steering wheel.

And what is most important to that person is their ability to keep a keen eye on the road ahead.

It is estimated that eight out of ten people who wear glasses also drive.

This is not to suggest, of course, that spectacles are a hindrance to good motoring. It’s just that certain conditions - dusk, heavy rain, mist, nightime - pose more problems for those of us with less than perfect natural eyesight.

Well, there is now a range of lenses specially designed to help drivers in specs when the light dims or the weather closes in: ZEISS Drivesafe lenses.

Ivan Cammack, Thame optometrist, takes me through the science and the enormous benefits. “Some of the difficulties - picking up on distances, for example, and judging the speed of

8. Thame Out

oncoming traffic - that people experience when driving is down to the way that the pupils in our eyes dilate and expand according to how much light there is,” he says. “The more light, the more the pupil narrows; the less light, the more it expands. What this means is that when the light levels are low - at night, during heavy rain or in mist - it is more of a challenge for our eyes to cope with distances and speeds.”

There is, it appears, an additional problem, one that you might not consider as a hazard: car headlights.

“Headlights push out a high spectrum of blue light,” explains Ivan. “And the glare reduces rather than increases visibility.”

The Germans, those masters of car engineering, have come up with a rather elegant answer. “ZEISS Drivesafe lenses have a special finish which cuts down the effect of glare by over 60 percent,” says Ivan. “The lens coatings contain contrast-enhancing filters which, by minimizing the levels of blue light, mean that your eyes will have a much better fix on objects instead of simply being dazzled by the oncoming lights.”

ZEISS Drivesafe lenses.

See the difference.

There are other benefits too. The ZEISS lenses allow you up to a 43 percent larger mid-distance zone of vision and up to a 14 percent wider far-distance zone of vision. So you get to see much more of the road.

But staring through the windscreen isn’t the only aspect of good, safe driving. There are mirrors to check and dashboards to consult in flashes of seconds. Here the ZEISS lenses can help as well. “The varifocal versions make for a much smoother transmission of your eye-line,” says Ivan. “There’s less side to side and up and down head movement, since the focus of the lenses gives your eyes the opportunity to do more of the

work that your head would normally do, switching from dashboard to wing-mirror to road.”

What’s more you can wear your ZEISS glasses for everyday use. Watching television, viewing your tablet screen, reading a book.

On my next visit, Ivan has prepared a pair for me. It is dark and rainy as I drive off. I might not have the nightvision of an owl but, boy, can I see a lot more and a lot better. Most importantly of all, I have never felt safer behind a steering wheel.

Contact: Ivan R Cammack (Thame) T. 01844 212048 E. info@ivancammack.com Chinnor (01844) 351564 Wendover (01296) 625892

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HEALTH & BEAUTY *

Positively pampered Debroh Rogers samples the Studio 86 experience, a well established, very fine hair salon in Thame that goes the extra smile.

S

tudio 86 – on Thame High Street, has really impressed with its creative skills for over 4 years now. It’s owner Jamie Michelle Pfeifer has a devoted list of clients. But its not just the stylish and imaginative cuts, and subtle, elegant colourings, that keep her customers coming back.

They simply love the relaxed atmosphere. It’s an oasis of calm on a busy High St .

Jamie’s assistant Charlotte relaxes you with a superb head massage and follows this up with a hand massage. You are already in a capable pair of hands before Jamie has started to work her magic.

The other thing I noticed on my visit was the laughter. There is real warmth in Studio 86 and on a cold winters morning with a hot cup of tea, head and hand massages, great conversation and a few laughs, what’s not to like. You almost forget you have come in for a hair cut.

A typical regular is Lynn from Bledlow. Lyn has been having her hair styled and coloured by Jamie for many years, they have become good friends and is eager to recommend Jamie to everyone.

“I think Jamie is an excellent stylist first of all, but I also like to feel comfortable and relaxed. Studio

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Jamie

Charlotte

Contact Jamie on 07985206777 ] jamiestyles77@yahoo.com ] www.jamiestyles.com ] For 24/7 online booking go to www.vagaro.com/studio86

86 has a nice ‘homely’ feel to it. Even my Husband who is folically challenged lets say loves his time with Jamie and her team.” Says Lynn. “ Jamie is very attentive, every time I visit Studio 86, she treats me as though it’s my first visit.

I have seen first hand how so many people visiting for the first time leave the salon totally transformed” adds Lyn Jamie is happy styling women’s, men’s and children’s hair, rest assured, you will be in the capable hands of a top team. You will leave positively pampered.

New Loyalty Card Jamie has launched a loyalty card. After 10 visits, you will get £25.00 off your next visit.

Studio 86 uses Redken products which are free of ammonia and which are kinder and gentler.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY * Health and fitness advice from Chinnor based personal fitness trainer, Hilary Westall.

Mind over matter I

went to see Ruby Wax’s ‘Sane New World’ show in Aylesbury earlier this month, a tour designed to help us understand why we sabotage our own sanity with our own thinking.

A long term sufferer of depression herself, she uses her knowledge from her recent Master’s Degree in mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy at Oxford University to guide us on how to survive the 21st century, which in her view is ‘too hard, too fast, and too full of fear’.

It was her talk of mindfulness that really struck a chord with me though, and how it can be applied to just about anything – not least physical exercise.

Mindfulness can be defined as ‘a mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations’. The idea is to let go of distractions and unrelated thoughts, and focus your attention inwardly. The basic premise here is that if you give your full attention to your workout you’re bound to do it more effectively and safely.

Being mindful during your workout can significantly:

l Increase the effectiveness of your workout l Decrease your chances of injury l Enhance your enjoyment of exercise l Help you develop a more healthy relationship with your body

With mindful exercise you’re looking for a balance between discipline (for example, sticking to a training plan) and listening to your body’s needs; quality not quantity. Being willing to adapt your workout to suit your body’s needs on any given day is important. Pushing yourself when you’re body isn’t feeling up to it could increase your chance of injury so you’re better off having a rest day or choosing an alternative form of exercise on that day. By listening to your

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body, you’re demonstrating self-care and trust in yourself, both of which are vitally important to health and happiness.

Mindfulness practices to improve your fitness routine: l Ditch the iPod or TV during a workout and instead focus your attention on your breath, movements and technique whilst running on the treadmill or lifting weights. Taking running as an example, if you focus your attention on the quality of strides, rhythm of breathing and sensations in your body, you can make minor adjustments throughout your run to create fluidity, enjoyment and an improved experience all round. Notice how you feel during and after your workout when practising mindfulness in this way. l While lifting weights, focus your full attention on the muscle(s) you are working; really feel the muscle contract and relax with each repetition, breathing slowly and steadily. If unrelated thoughts creep in, let them go and bring your focus back to your muscles and breathing.

l Before a workout, or after a warm-up, tune in to your body and be aware of what level of exertion you’re ready for.

For example, if you’re feeling particularly tired you may benefit more from some low impact, low intensity exercise instead of your planned run or spinning class. l While stretching, bring your attention right into the area you’re stretching.

Close your eyes if it helps and breathe slowly and deeply 10 times, as if you’re breathing directly into the muscle you’re stretching. Be aware of how your breathing allows you to increase your stretch more easily.

With its small, precise movements and emphasis on technique, Pilates is a great example of where mindfulness could and should be practised. It’s no good lying there and allowing your mind to wander off on what to make for dinner, or what to wear to the work Christmas party.

Even if you’re a seasoned Pilates goer, the chances are that you won’t be getting the most out of it if you’re not focused on the exercise you’re doing.

Practising mindfulness while exercising is good for your mind and body. The repetitive nature of most exercises provides the perfect platform for the art of mindfulness.

The techniques mentioned here can be applied to anything – eating, sleeping, cooking, driving…there really is no limit.

Have a go and see the benefits extend beyond your workouts to other areas of your life – and enhance your fitness, health and happiness in the process.

Hilary is a Level 3 Personal Trainer and Pilates teacher. She runs body conditioning and Pilates classes in Chinnor and can be contacted on 07812 097562, email: hilarywestall@gmail.com for further details.

Win a FREE b COMPETITION one-to-one workout. See page 66.

HEALTH & BEAUTY *

How many success stories do you need to read before you write your own ...?

Rob Grimwood Weight loss: 16lbs

“

As someone who has always struggled with weight since the age of 14, I can finally see some light. I’ve learned more about food in these past 21 days than fifteen years of doctors and dieticians have ever been able to tell me. I don’t feel as tired as I have done in the past and when my child allows I have been sleeping lots better and an extra bonus is that my skin looks fab.

“

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“

DROPiT 21 has been a revelation to me, that I am not yet ready to be consigned to the scrap heap of middle age. With the right motivation, support and determination it is possible to start exercising again. To revise my attitude to food, to lose a significant amount of weight and to feel years better as a result.

In summary, old dog taught new tricks.

“

DROPiT21 is an online programme focusing on education and motivation around clean healthy eating, fitness and wellbeing and was established in November 2013 by qualified fitness professional, Sandra Brooks.

Sandra explains,“The structured 21 day plan is geared towards people with busy lives, but who want to make that change to live more healthily, and with the added convenience that the plan can be followed at home.”

No pills, no shakes or meal supplements, calorie counting or a quick fix faddy diet that is impossible to stick to. DROPiT21 is simply about getting back to basics in the approach to food and cooking and avoiding sugar-and chemical-laden processed, refined and packaged foods. It’s about eating real foods, as close to their natural form as possible. Lean protein, good carbs, healthy fats, fresh fruit and vegetables all washed down with plenty of water.

All the ingredients needed are readily available from local supermarkets and are not expensive specialist health foods or supplements.

But don’t just take Sandra’s word for it, see (left) what some of DROPiT21 customers say:

Yvette Raisen Age 30 Weight loss: 10lbs Inch loss 10 inches

Debbie Richardson Weight loss: 10 pounds Inch loss: 9.5 inches

“

“

“

For me, the plan has shown me that what I eat has a direct influence on my ability to function and respond. I haven’t had any sugar cravings or highs/lows from sugar or caffeine. My energy levels are generally higher, I am much more confident. I have a better relationship with food and I am much more toned.

I subscribed to DROPiT 21 last Spring as I have not been able to shift the last 1.5 stone of baby weight. I’ve never dieted but always thought I ate healthily and exercised regularly. I lost a stone in 21 days and the rest over the following 2 months.

I felt great and was full of energy. One year on and when I tell people about DROPiT 21 they always ask how much weight I have put back on since finishing the programme. My honest answer is 4 pounds! How many people promise results yet you are back on it again 6 months later because you find yourself back at square one? DROPiT 21 is a lifestyle choice and it’s an easy one. Give it a go, what have you got to lose apart from a few pounds.

“

Emma Bailey Age 38

Laura Fopp, Age 41 Weight loss: 16lbs

“

I feel truly awesome since doing the DROPiT 21 programme. I lost 12 pounds and lost inches too in 21 days. I have since lost a stone in total. I feel happier in my body but most importantly I feel healthier and fitter. I don’t see this as a diet, I see it as a better way to live!

“

“

Jess Foster Weight loss: 7lbs Inch loss: 8 inches

“

Every woman has one of these in her wardrobe. Yes it’s THAT dress you haven’t been able to fit into for years. But you love it and can’t throw it out. This was my first proper evening dress that I scraped my student allowance together to buy 20 years ago. I was trying it on in the shop and a man walked in off the street to tell me how beautiful I looked. I have never forgotten that moment. Well I’m just finishing my second DROPiT 21 detox and I’m back in that size 12 dress! Feeling fitter, thinner and the happiest I’ve been with my body in a very long time.

“

“

I came into this programme thinking it wouldn’t work for me as I already had a fairly healthy diet.

How wrong could I be! I’ve kicked my continual tea and coffee drinking habit and stopped picking at food while cooking. I’m hoping this is the start of a better way of life for me and my family.

Carly, Age 33 Weight loss: 12 pounds

So are you ready for that positive change?

For Further details of DROPiT21 please contact Sandra on 07771 800913 or email sandra@dropit21.com

DISCOUNT OFFER Sandra is offering a 10% Early Bird Discount Offer for people signing up for the 4th January DROPiT21 Facebook Programme if they sign up by 13th December. The discount code: JAN 16 EARLY BIRD would need to be entered at the checkout on the website www.dropit21.com

... the results will speak for themselves.

Mobile: +44 7771 800913 Email: sandra@dropit21.com Web: www.dropit21.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY *

Give your face To look your natural best you do not need to resort to surgery. Penny, a 52-yearold nurse really did her homework and put her trust in a team of experienced nurses at Thame’s MBNS Clinic.

Photography by Caz Scott caz.scott@hotmail.co.uk www.cazwalesphotography.com

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a lift Penny before treatment

Penny immediately after treatment

Penny’s treatment

Penny two weeks after treatment

My forehead, temple region, cheek area, chin, lips and folds from my nose to mouth were expertly filled with Juvéderm dermal fillers with only a little discomfort, and immediately I was able to see that my facial structure had added volume and my face was restored to the shape it had been when I was younger.

I couldn’t believe that such a simple treatment had such amazing subtle changes.

I had minimal bruising for up to a week following the procedure, which was easily covered up with a special camouflage make-up called Lycogel, and slight discomfort for the first couple of days was relieved by taking paracetamol.

Three weeks post treatment my face looks natural, volume restored in my cheeks, forehead, nose, lips, chin and my lines greatly reduced.

Family members and work colleagues have all commented on how well I look and have asked me if I have been away on holiday as I look so relaxed! That is exactly what I wanted them to say ... no one has asked me what I have had done!

These nurses at MBNS and Qutis Clinics are so experienced and professional in their approach and delivery of treatment - I was so happy to put my face in their experienced hands!

”

Penny before treatment

“A

Penny immediately after treatment

s I have aged I had begun to notice that my facial structure had changed. Making me look tired and old.

I had developed darkening under the eyes, my skin had lost volume and its youthful appearance and lines had developed from my nose to my mouth.

I had also begun to get jowls.

I decided to do something about it as it was getting me down. I did my homework online and found the website www.lookyournaturalbest.com. There were two clinics mentioned: MBNS in Thame and Qutis in Witney, so I phoned MBNS to make an initial consultation

If you would like a consultation with one of our specialist nurses, call MBNS on 01844 213007 or Qutis Clinics on 01993 704050 Penny two weeks after treatment

and speak to someone live. The receptionist on the end of the phone was extremely knowledgable, and put me at ease, so I decided to book in!

The clinics have a welcoming, warm feeling and all of the staff made me feel at ease.

Having taken a full medical history and determining realistic outcomes, I consented to have dermal fillers to restructure my face.

At my consultation I found the aesthetic nurses to be experienced and professional and I was happy to put my face in their hands.

MBNS Clinic 57 North Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3BH Tel: 01844 213007 www.mbnsclinic.co.uk

Qutis Clinic Witney 27 Corn Street, Witney, Oxon OX28 6DB Tel: 01993 704050 www.qutisclinics.co.uk www.lookyournaturalbest.com

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LIFESTYLE *

J

Jane Davies, who owns the White Studio in Haddenham, started thinking about Christmas last January reports Jane Williams.

ane Davies likes listening to her customers. Getting into chats with them about the items they like both to give and receive as gifts and presents.

These might be jewellery, clothes, or something for the home or garden. From the shelves and racks and cabinets at the White Hart Studio, it seems that Jane is a good listener. Like Jane herself, her customers enjoy the quirky, innovative and imaginative (and the eminently affordable). So what’s in store this Christmas?

Traditionally a time for families, the White Hart has brought together a whole range of Christmas gifts that will suit everyone. For those ‘difficult to buy for’ men, you’re bound to discover something, whether he’s a golfing, cycling or rugby enthusiast or simply a chap who likes (or needs) to look good. I noticed, for example, some fantastic three-penny cuff links for Mr Williams (he’s old enough to remember what a thrupence was and how much it could buy at the sweet shop).

He would also appreciate the range of old fashioned toys from Ridleys the harmonicas, the juggling balls, the dominoes, the snakes and ladders games, the slinkies, the whoopee cushions.

Though in truth these won’t be for the child in my man but for actual children.

Christmas wishes

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Also for the kids you will come across Jelli Cat toys, Hungry Caterpillar cutlery kits, Gruffalo pencil sets and piggy banks.

For us women, I would recommend you take a little look at the fantastic gold and silver jewellery from the Kate Hamilton-Hunter Studio. Or the fabulous 24 carat gold plated earrings

by Azuni (a favourite choice of Kate Middleton). Or some leather tie-round bracelets from Boho Betty (I remember them being featured in The Sunday Times).

There are a winter-warming range of scarves from Green Grove, made from 100 percent wool in Scotland with accompanying hats and gloves. The White Hart also carries a fragrant choice of Ora Keily and Ted Baker candles and diffusers. On the subject of luxurious and relaxing aromas, why not, after a hard day’s work, instead of pouring yourself a gin and tonic pour yourself into a hot bath with some Gin and Tonic foam? See what I mean about quirky?

With all this as well as cards and wrapping paper galore, all you have to do is pop along to the White Hart Studio and your very own Christmas wish list will come true.

WHITE HART STUDIO FASH IO N, JEW ELLERY, G IFTS & INTERIORS 15 CHURCHWAY, HADDENHAM, BUCKS HP17 8AB T: 01844 292308 M: 07765 366308 E: JANE@WHITEHARTSTUDIO.COM

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LIFESTYLE *

Christmas decorations 4 Why a visit to Thame jewellers, Kismet may just be the thing to add even more sparkle to Christmas, says, Jane Dale.

1 Silver and precious gemstones for your ‘charming’ guests from £25

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t this time of year the shimmering lights of a jewellery store make for an extra sparkle as the winter nights close in. Whether it be the scintillation of diamonds, or the mirror-like finish of a handcrafted silver bangle or the glow of watch hands with their superluminous coating, each creates an almost mystical dimension, one that seems to come to life at this magical time of year.

So why should your Christmas tree be the only source of glistening decoration? Here’s Kismet’s top twelve gift suggestions (for all the days of Christmas). We hope you’re inspired by them. But don’t limit your choice to these. We’ve got some one off creations, and some extra stocking fillers in store too.

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Silver and cubic Zirconia’s for added sparkle this Christmas from £44

3

Hand made

by Kismet’s expert craftsman.

18ct gold with £1,900 diamonds

£3,250

2

Seiko Ladies watches. Silver or gold plated with Swarovski crystals £179

5 £199

Delicate angels for your little angels Earrings £27 Pendant £29

9

Cuff links. Made in Britain. Silver and the finest enamelling from £156 (pictured)

11

6

Beautifully preserved leaves of nature. Blowing in the Wind from £37

Souffle pearls.

Beautiful hues of peaches and cream from £115 Earrings, Pearl ‘Hammocks’ £295

7 Bright white, everlasting silver with diamond from £250

10 Diving or not.

His and hers automatic watches from £1,170.

Or (right) something special from Seiko – celebrating their 50th Anniversary, this fantastic dive watch at £499

8

Look to the sky for satellites in these diamond set ring (£850) and bangle (£890)

12

Pink and yellow Sapphire in 18ct gold ... exquisite £495

Kismet Jewellers: 01844 261166 Yvette@kismetjewellers.com Follow us on Facebook

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Kitchens

without compromise Kingsey Kitchens is a bespoke kitchen manufacturer and retailer based between Thame and Princes Risborough.

Our specialist team of designers, craftsmen and installers genuinely want to provide a service that enables everyone, from those with small budgets to those looking for a top of the range kitchen, to be able to have something bespoke, uniquely designed and manufactured exactly to their specifications.

We pride ourselves on providing amazing quality furniture using premium materials at competitive prices.

To take advantage of our FREE home consultation and design service, please contact us today.

A VERY SPECIAL OFFER A FREE beautifully boxed set of 84 piece Stanton Bright cutlery from Robert Welch with every Kitchen ordered in January 2016 Terms and Conditions apply see in showroom for details

www.robertwelch.com/dining/cutlery/cutlery_ranges/stanton

Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors 1 The Barns, Manor Farm, Risborough Road, Kingsey, Buckinghamshire HP17 8LU 01844 290 899 info@kingseykitchens.co.uk www.kingseykitchens.co.uk

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Christmas for men, women and children

Winter at

FASH IO N, JEW ELLERY, G IFTS & INTERIORS

White Hart Studio

15 CHURCHWAY, HADDENHAM, BUCKS HP17 8AB T: 01844 292308 M: 07765 366308 E: JANE@WHITEHARTSTUDIO.COM

WHITE HART STUDIO

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FASHION *

Simply having a Gallant A gift for the man in your life?

Matthew Stockmore drops into Gallant, Thame’s premier menswear boutique.

G

od rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. For a gift from Gallant menswear will cheer your Christmas day.

Gallant in Greyhound Walk, is a home for truly stylish men’s clothing and accessories. With Christmas coming, it might be a good time to pay a visit.

With an abundance of unique brands and luxury collections, you will be spoilt for choice from stocking fillers to the main event.

And, talking of spoiling, Christmas is when Gallant is in its element. Fabrics exude comfort and joy with shearling, cashmere, merino and brushed supima cottons and a luxurious decadence illuminates with colours of burgundy, sapphire and gold enriching dull winter days.

Cut a dash at parties throughout the festive season and rock around your Christmas tree.

Whether a gift for a loved one or a treat for you, Gallant will always make you feel that extra bit special!

To make your shopping even easier, the store is open from 10.00am to 3.00pm on the Sunday before Christmas (20th December) and also on Christmas Eve for those last-minute buys. Better still, for every purchase you make, you can take advantage of the luxury gift wrapping service that will be laid on.

Gallant has your Christmas wrapped up!

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V

Christmas time

The difference is in the detail Circle of Gentlemen Pal Zileri Eton Oliver Sweeney Sunspel 7 For All Mankind Hackett Gant Paul & Shark Duchamp Lagerfeld Lanvin Gran Sasso Hiltl Falke Without Prejudice La Martina

10 Greyhound Walk, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3DY 01844 218 400 www.gallant-thame.co.uk twitter: @Gallant_Thame

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TRAVEL * Amber Fort

Passage to Hayley Merriman of Spear Travels. in Thame takes a memorable trip to Rajasthan in north-west India

I

f yours is a first-time trip to India, then there is no better destination than Rajasthan. It is dotted with the magnificent forts that stand as memorials to the region’s warrior past. But it is as rich in softer, gentler testaments to India’s immersive, enthralling cultures: palaces, temples and holy lakes aplenty, and, of course, the soaring magnificence of the Taj Mahal.

Our flight left from Heathrow on the 8-hour journey to New Delhi. Once we had passed through immigration (I do recommend acquiring an e-visa as it speeds up the process) we were greeted by our guide for the week and escorted to our spacious, fully air conditioned minibus where bottles of water - a nice welcoming touch - were also on hand.

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India

Glugs from the bottles and the soothing air saw us through the 45-minute journey across New Delhi’s rush-hour traffic - horses and carts to the left, tuk tuks, bicycles, mopeds and buses to the right - to our hotel, the four-star Jaypee Siddharth. After checking-in and a quick freshen up, we were off by tuk tuk to the local metro station. Our first stop was Old Delhi where the heat and the aromas and the sounds hit you like a wave. Our guide conducted us through the higgedly-piggedly streets, each fascinatingly resonant of a world apart from India’s modernity. Then it was tuk tuks back to our hotel and a delicious evening meal at a local family-run vegetarian restaurant.

An early start the next morning saw us on board a train to Pushkar, complete with chai tea and breakfast, the tracks surrounded on each side by necklaces of villages. We arrived in time for lunch at the four-star Pushkar Fort hotel where the food and service was of the highest standards. After lunch it was on to the centre of Pushkar and the Brahma temple. At sunset we embarked on a walk to the holy lake of Pushkar where people were taking a dip in its waters as a way of cleansing them of their sins.

Later that evening we dined at the house of a local family. We were invited to seat ourselves on cushions in the open courtyard. It proved to be one of the best meals I ate on my trip: the chapatis were mouthwatering and were followed by a

fantastic traditional dessert of rice pudding and introductions to the family who had prepared our meal with such care.

After breakfast, we began our journey to the pink city of Jaipur. Out hotel for the next two nights was the three-star Devraj Niwas. We settled in, enjoyed lunch at the al fresco forester’s restaurant and then travelled to the city centre via a bus and tuk tuks. Here we had time to relish the colourful veg, fruit and flower markets, wandering along the avenues of stalls.

The colour and dazzle continued with a visit to a local cinema where we watched a popular Bollywood movie (even without subtitles we just about managed to follow the storyline). Our evening meal was served back at the hotel.

The next day was filled to the brim with a sightseeing tour of Jaipur. First stop was the Palace of the Winds, built in 1799, from whose small, discreet windows women could gaze out at the passing life of the city without compromising their

modesty. Next was the Jantar Mantar Monument, a UNESCO world heritage site composed of 19 astronomical instruments and housing the planet’s largest stone sundial. In the early afternoon we visited the Amber Fort, one of the oldest in Rajasthan, dating back to 1592, imposing and opulent, its

Taj Mahal

Palace of the Winds in Jaipur

interior buildings made from marble and red sandstone. A late lunch at a fabulous outdoor restaurant refreshed us before we headed back to the hotel for a few hours of leisure time.

After breakfast we checked out and boarded a bus for a trip to Agra. We stopped on route for a meal at a village restaurant where I chose the signature dish thali, which consisted of a round platter rimmed with various sweet and bitter condiments supplemented with a variety of breads. By mid-afternoon we were at the stunning five-star Jaypee Palace hotel. Having feasted in one of the hotel’s restaurants we luxuriated in a relaxing evening.

The next morning came our eagerly anticipated trip to one of the most iconic structures in the world - the Taj Mahal.

Commissioned back in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, it took 22 years and labour of 22,000 workers to construct the towering monument.

We arrived at the gates just before sunrise and, though I had seen pictures of the Taj Mahal, nothing quite prepares you for the breathtaking grandeur of the building when it stands, stone and marble, before you. Later in the day we visited Agra Fort, another world heritage site and then, leaving Agra behind, travelled down to New Delhi by road. Our final check-in was the four-star Taj Princess hotel, a few steps from the bustling night market.

The next morning our visit came, sadly, to an end and we were off to the airport.

India itself is a mosaic of cultures, cuisines, histories and geographies. But if you want an introduction to this spectacular country, then Rajasthan is the perfect starting point.

Hayley travelled with tour operator Exodus, though other equally good operators are available. The hotels and the service were consistently excellent. Hayley’s trip spanned the 16 to 23 September, and she recommends that the best time to travel in India is from September to April, after and before the monsoon season.

If you would like the trip of a lifetime to India (or anywhere else in the world), just visit Spear Travels in Thame.

Spear Travels Greyhound Walk, Thame, Oxon OX9 3DY 01844 217228 thame@speartravels.net www.speartravels.net

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LIFESTYLE * The season for going out every other evening is upon us again. Here, then, are a few tips on how to find the energy for all those nights on the tiles and how to stay feeling and looking great while partying the festive season away.

Party on H

aving fun at Christmas can sometimes feel like hard work.

To begin with, there don’t seem to be enough dates in December to accommodate all the party invites.

And what with work, the children and the shopping, keeping a full social diary going can become more of a challenge almost by the day.

Handy excuses come in abundance, of course. The lack of a reliable babysitter; the faint suspicion of a ticklish cough; traffic delays on the way home from work. The truth is that you just want to slump in front of the television because you haven’t the energy to go out but don’t want to admit it.

Christmas, however, doesn’t have to be a series of last-minute explanatory apologies to friends involving an unlikely urge to get the ironing done or polite ‘no thank yous’ to warm invitations; there are some easy and effective remedies for fun-fatigue, ploys that will help you enjoy the whole of the festive season without suffering from party burn-out

Tackling after-work syndrome A tough day at work isn’t always the best prelude to great evening out. One way of banishing the lingering effects of the office is to award yourself just a few minutes of genuine peace and calm before you go out. Give yourself a scalp massage to soothe the tensions that would otherwise show themselves in your face. Drink a herbal tea, not coffee, to replenish your energy levels – cinnamon and ginger are good at adding a natural spark to flagging vitality.

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and on and on ...

From parent to party-goer

The temptation after tucking the kids up in bed is to make a sudden, mad dash to get ready. Instead treat yourself to a languid bath and immerse yourself in aromatherapeutic oils. Rosemary, ginseng and cardamom can all help revive your circulation and lift your mood. Sip a non-alcoholic drink – some carrot and orange juice perhaps – while you laze in the bath as it will tend to dampen any hunger pangs until it is time to eat.

Mirror, mirror You think the dress that was a perfect fit only weeks ago is now so tight it looks as if it’s been sprayed on. Nonsense tiredness can do terrible things to selfperception. So face the mirror full square and tell yourself, more than a few times, that you look fantastic. And, invariably, you will.

For some longer-term positive therapy, you can always treat yourself to a session at the beauty salon, including perhaps a body wrap, just as the party season begins in earnest.

Over-indulgence However iron-willed, excessive consumption can be as much a part of Christmas as tinsel and crowded shops.

A good way of combating a hangover is gently to rub rose or lavender oils into your temples. You can counter dehydration by drinking lots of water and fresh fruit juices mixed with mineral water.

Keeping pace Christmas is custom designed to test our stress-tolerance levels to the limit.

To cope, you need to begin every day on the best possible footing, so massage aromatherapy oils into your skin as you take your morning shower.

Outlaw sugary tit-bits, and replace them with almonds or cashew nuts to munch on. Eat healthily to maintain a good energy equilibrium: vegetable soups, grilled fish, chicken and steamed green vegetables. Say goodbye to coffee and hello to herbal teas such as ginger and camomile. This should help keep stress in its place.

Pick-me-ups You’re not going to feel like the life and soul of the party all the time, no matter how carefully you look after yourself.

And you shouldn’t harangue yourself for not wanting to go out. But you can always try tweaking your mood with a plant essence spray. The vapour of concentrated orchid scent hanging gently in the air can have remarkable powers of re-invigoration.

None of this, of course, is a recipe for perpetual motion. But it may just help you to party on for a little longer this Christmas.

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LIFESTYLE *

Real Art

Thunderball

For those who believe that conceptualism and installationism have made of art an alien form, bereft of both traditional skill and an intelligible interpretation of the world, there is still hope. Witness the work of locally based painter, Peregrine Heathcote.

F

igurative painting has had a hard time of it during the last few decades or more. Indeed, you might say that any sort of painting, oils and water colours on canvas, whether representational and figurative or abstract and impressionistic, has suffered from the didacticism of the new aesthetic pieties of the art establishment: videos, installations, appropriated everyday objects that, by virtue of being placed in a gallery, acquire the sanctity of creative thought. Banished are the skills of draughtsmanship, the focus of hand and eye, the interplay between paint and the world whose colours and textures it seeks to refresh and invigorate.

If piles of bricks, unmade beds and forensically dissected sharks aren’t your thing, and the interpretative essays that accompany them, then you may care to cast an eye over the work of an internationally renowned artist who is based in Henley-on-Thames: Peregrine Heathcote.

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Born in London in 1973, Heathcote first developed an interest in figurative, narrative painting while still at school in Chelsea. On a trip to a prominent London art academy - it was a cold day - the young Peregrine suggested that the curator turn on an old radiator set in a corner of the gallery. The curator informed him that the radiator was, in fact, a sculpture of significance and not an appliance. From then on Peregrine knew that, if he were to nurture his talent, he would need to step outside of the constrictions and post-modern orthodoxies of contemporary scholastic British art.

So it was he found himself, for three years, studying at the Fine Art Academy in Florence. Here he suffused his work in the lines, the palette of colours, the perspectives of the master figurative painters, adapting their techniques to his own vision of making meaningful and beautiful art.

On his return to the UK, Heathcote continued to refine and hone both his skills and his artistic outlook. Romantic realism it may be described as, following in a tradition from Holbein to Ingres and to the pre-Raphaelites. His earlier work is peopled by beautiful women stepping from trains as elegant as their dresses, by Gatsby-esque characters embarking on luxurious voyages aboard cruise liners or vintage aircraft. For all their intoxicating glamour and lilting nostalgia, the paintings instil a sense of contemporary drama and story-telling, still-lives yet filmic and cinematic at the same time.

His later work has continued with this playing with time. It has investigated not just the 1920s and the 1930s but has shifted effortlessly through the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, re-imagining their styles, their portraiture and their ambience. The detailing is precise, immaculate even but there is also a flow, a dexterity, a compositional seriousness and a witty playfulness at work.

Gullwing

See of tranquility

Julian Fellows.

Writer, Director, Actor.

As Heathcote’s range of paintings has grown so has his reputation. He has exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal Academy, while he has also been the subject of a BBC documentary. He has recently relocated to a new studio, a converted garage perched on beechwood hillside near Henley.

From here he has 80-mile views of the surrounding landscape. But it’s Heathcote’s perspective on hundreds of years of fine, exemplary and traditional figurative painting that truly informs his work. Real if imagined people, real if imagined stories, and real art.

Contact: Peregrine Heathcote peregrineheathcote@hotmail.com Peregrine’s work will be exhibited in Scottsdale, Arizona,US. The show runs from 3rd-24th December at the Bonner David Galleries

Diamonds on the soles of her feet

Just some of the magnificent Thame Jewellery Workshop Christmas collection as modelled by Holly Mae Hilton This Christmas collection is elegant and sophisticated with a charm like no other.

Beautifully set diamonds amongst many other stunning precious gems. This is every ladies dream for Christmas!

Hand made pieces make a special gift.

Master Goldsmith Robert French has created some of the most luxurious and thrilling designs. All ready for a sparkling Christmas.

We are open on Mondays now from 30th November up to Christmas

A sparkling Christmas collection from Thame Jewellery Workshop

Goldsmith Onsite Jewellery for Women Jewellery for Men Repairs

Thame Jewellery Workshop 87 Lower High Street, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3EH 01844 690123 thamejewelleryworkshop@yahoo.co.uk

INNOVATIVE STYLING AVEDA HAIR CARE – THE ROOTS OF AVEDA Aveda started with one shampoo and a mission to create naturally-derived products that care for your hair and the world we live in.

Today our ingredients are over 95% naturally-derived and harvested worldwide.

Our hair care systems deliver salon proven results and feature unique flower and plant Pure-Fume™ aromas that change your mood while you cleanse and condition your hair.

Complimentary Scalp Massage, Hand Massage and Make-up Refresh

Recruiting now for all three Salons.

CREATIVE COLOURING Brothers - Thame 16 Buttermarket, Thame, OX9 3EP Tel: 01844 217365 Brothers - Oxford 57 The High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AS Tel: 01865 250696 Brothers - Marlow 68 West Street, Marlow, SL7 2BP Tel: 01628 484717 Book online @ www.brotherssalons.co.uk

Stylists Technicians and Apprentices.

HOME & GARDEN *

Planning a

The pop up extractor fan

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The Larder

Hidden white goods

Increasingly, Kingsey customers are discovering that planning an extension is the best time to plan a new kitchen too. Sarah Denmark reports.

dream kitchen I

t’s a trend Fay Branch at Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors has noticed more and more. Customers coming to them to discuss their new kitchen at the same time as the building of their extension begins. “Working with plans for an extension is ideal,” says Fay. “It means we can use every inch of space imaginatively and efficiently. It’s great to be involved in a project and to see it through from initial drawings to a perfect conclusion.”

Emma Vale’s kitchen in Chinnor is just one recent example. A reconfigeration of two small rooms at the back of Emma’s house, plus the extension has led to a stunning new living space that comprises a sleek, stylish kitchen and diner. There is also a spacious, yet subtle utility room. You might expect the utility room to be more about function than aesthetics, but not so. It matches the style of the kitchen perfectly and, although it is hidden away, still boasts custom-built, clever design features that accommodate the washing machine, tumble dryer, boiler and ironing board.

The main kitchen/living area is a beautifully lit, stylishly smooth grey interior. There are no handles to be

seen, and all the doors and drawers open at a simple touch. The worktop is Tristone, a 100% acrylic solid surface that is elegant, extremely practical - it doesn’t show fingerprints - and, because it is resistant to water, heat, bacteria and chemicals, very long lasting.

Tristone is fabricated by Kingsey Kitchens in their workshop, and this particular work top, incorporating a moulded sink, has no visible joins so the design flows seemlessly.

In keeping with Emma’s request for a smooth look to her kitchen, the impressive island and breakfast bar has a hidden extractor fan that appears at the touch of a button. Similarly, electric sockets pop up when needed.

As you would expect with a kitchen from Kingsey, it features superb storage solutions, including big pan storage and a spacious larder. An instant hot water tap is also a nice feature.

It isn’t just the kitchens that Fay is proud of; it’s the service that Kingsey provides too. Fay invited Emma over to see her own extension one Sunday.

Her new room was a similar size and it provided Emma with a real idea of what could be achieved.

The cost of a new kitchen can sometimes run away with itself. But at Kingsey Kitchens, that’s something they understand. They combine a range of ‘off-the-shelf’ products and hand-made items to create truly bespoke designs tailored to fit each individual client’s ideas and budget. Customers are able to choose any style of kitchen, from contemporary to traditional. “Clients can be more imaginative and innovative with their budgets,” says Fay. “And spend their money exactly where they want. A lot of kitchen suppliers offer just ‘off-the-shelf’ or just completely bespoke solutions.”

The one thing Kingsey will always do is find a solution. Creating your dream kitchen is not necessarily an expensive solution. “Simply moving a door or window let alone a wall can transform a room and improve the ergonomics so much” says Fay. Looking ahead to 2016, Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors have already been asked to get involved with planned home extensions. Two of which don’t even have planning permission approved. Which goes to show that Kingsey can even help at the pre-planning stage.

So if you want to transform your kitchen and add value to your home, give Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors a call.

Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors 1 The Barns, Manor Farm, Risborough Road, Kingsey, Buckinghamshire HP17 8LU www.kingseykitchens.co.uk 01844 290 899 info@kingseykitchens.co.uk

A VERY SPECIAL OFFER The pop up sockets

A FREE beautifully boxed set of 84 piece Stanton Bright cutlery from Robert Welch with every Kitchen ordered in January 2016 www.robertwelch.com/dining/cutlery/cutlery_ranges/stanton Terms and Conditions apply see in showroom for details

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EDUCATION *

Something for everyone Ashfold is a leading independent day, weekly and flexi boarding school for boys and girls aged three to thirteen years.

S

et in thirty acres of beautiful grounds in rural Buckinghamshire, the School is located within easy reach of Thame, Princes Risborough, Oxford, Bicester and Aylesbury. The nearest mainline station with regular connections to London Marylebone and Birmingham is just 15 minutes away. Ashfold is a busy and vibrant place with a reputation as a friendly, family-orientated school.

Founded in 1927, Ashfold is a country prep school offering the very best in both traditional and innovative teaching. The School’s extensive facilities include a purpose-built PrePrep Building, sports hall, full-sized astroturf and a heated outdoor pool. Last year, we announced the development of an exciting new Art & Design Centre.

Construction is now almost complete and the Art & Design Centre is due to open in January 2016. The new Centre will provide modern, purpose-built

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facilities for teaching and learning Food Technology, Design Technology, Art, Ceramics and Creative Textiles.

Most children join Ashfold in the Pre-Prep Department and move on to top independent senior schools at 13+.

In recent years, our leavers have gained places at Magdalen College School, Wellington College, Bradfield, Radley, Abingdon, Rugby, Stowe, Headington and Berkhamsted, to name but a few.

Ashfold has an excellent academic record – in 2015, more than half our Sixth Form leavers achieved scholarships or awards to their chosen schools.

The School offers an outstanding all-round education with superb opportunities for sport, art, music and drama as well as a wide-ranging programme of extra-curricular activities.

We place great emphasis on life beyond the classroom and encourage children to explore and extend their wider interests.

There really is something for everyone at Ashfold.

We hold Open Mornings each term and would be delighted to welcome you to our school. If you would like more information or would like to arrange a visit, please contact the Registrar, Mrs Katrina Hartley on 01844 238237 or registrar@ashfoldschool.co.uk.

You are warmly invited to come and see the School, meet the staff and children and see for yourselves all the many opportunities on offer.

Ashfold School Open Mornings Saturday 6 February 2016 10.00am - 12 noon Saturday 7 May 2016 10.00am - 12 noon Ashfold School Dorton House, Dorton, Buckinghamshire HP18 9NG 01844 238237 www.ashfoldschool.co.uk

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EDUCATION *

Sixth sense

Sixth Form. Two of the most important years in a student’s school life, says Joanne Croft, Head of Sixth Form at Rye St Antony School

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ixth Form is the most exciting but also challenging two years of a student’s educational life – a time to specialise, prepare for further education and consider career choices. It is also a time when lifelong friendships are made, community ties are strengthened and personal development is more important than ever.

It is vital that students in these crucial years make the right choice of AS and A Level subjects for them, that will cater for their specific needs and aspirations. At Rye St Antony we believe our Sixth Form offers something unique for Oxford – our students receive personal attention that is second to none within their own purpose built surroundings set in the school’s wonderful 12 acre grounds and woodlands. Here they are given endless opportunities to learn, question, push the boundaries, socialise and play an active and important part in the whole school community.

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When our Sixth Form girls aren’t studying or engaged in their very active social life, you might find them helping out in the school Nursery, running a school club, directing a play starring younger pupils or organising a charity event.

Girls choose Rye St Antony for Sixth Form, not just for the excellent academic and teaching programme, but because we also actively encourage them to flourish as well-rounded citizens who take away with them so much more than good A Level results.

When a high percentage of employers say they require candidates to possess much-needed soft skills such as empathy, courtesy, leadership, problem-solving and communication, our Sixth Form helps girls to prepare for the outside world within a happy and stimulating environment. As well as offering excellent academic support, we actively help pupils with work experience placements, careers guidance

and those all-important University choices through our dedicated team of Sixth Form advisers.

Between studying for AS and A Levels and immersing themselves in the busy school community, our girls still find time for an active and interesting social life. From attending life drawing classes, theatre and cinema trips to festivals, concerts, balls and events, the social ‘whirl’ is an important ingredient to a fulfilling and happy two years at Rye Sixth Form. Community and voluntary work is important too, with many girls working with local charities such as Oxfam, The Porch and Helen and Douglas House.

We welcome visitors to the Sixth Form at any time – so do come and see us soon. You will find a welcoming and happy atmosphere on any day of the week and our Sixth Formers would love to show you around.

Rye St Antony School Pullen’s Lane Oxford OX3 0BY +44 (0)1865 762802 www.ryestantony.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK *

Pour health Nicola Dale looks at Juice cleansing: a natural detoxification programme giving the digestive system a rest whilst flooding the cells with the nutrients it craves

T

he human body is extraordinary, performing endless functions every day. Each process in our body requires a precise combination of nutrients to function properly. The lifestyle we choose and everything we consume has the power to affect our health and longevity, both positively and negatively, depending on its nature.

The Healthy Juice Company provides certified organic, cold pressed juice and nut milks in their purest and most nutritionally dense form for the ultimate botanical nourishment. Cold pressing produces juice which is the ultimate health tonic.

The juice is cold pressed and handcrafted in small batches, with no pasteurising or HPP (High Pressure Processing or Pascalisation) processing involved. “The juice is fresh from the press just as nature intended�. They produce their juice daily and sell it in elegant glass bottles which, along with their packaging, they encourage to be returned for them to re-use

Cold pressing releases the nutrients locked inside the fibres of fruit and vegetables and extracts the maximum nutrients possible, retaining them at a constant elevated level for 3 days before they naturally begin to decline.

Drinking organic cold pressed, unadulterated juice is for those with a higher regard for their own wellbeing.

The juice is fresh from the press just as nature intended.

The Healthy Juice Company understand how difficult it can be to ensure a healthy balanced diet is maintained on a daily basis which is why they provide juices bursting with living nutrition. They are perfect to supplement your daily diet or to order as a cleansing programme. Endorsed by leading naturopath and master herbalist Philip Weeks, so you know that you are in safe and professional hands. The Healthy Juice Company have taken out all of the effort of consuming something super healthy and have even made it delicious and beautiful to look at as well.

The juices are: l Cold pressed l 100% natural l Organic and Soil Association certified l Juiced daily l Vibrantly fresh tasting l Pre 6am daily delivery to your doorstep for our juice cleanse customers l Daily variety in our juice cleanse packages l Low in natural sugars l No pasteurisation or HPP l Alkalising l Dairy free l Vegan l British seasonal ingredients used where possible l Environmentally friendly packaging l Elegant and reusable glass bottles

The Healthy Juice Company 7 Grange Mews, Launton, Oxfordshire OX26 5EG 01869 324328 info@thehealthyjuicecompany.co.uk www.thehealthyjuicecompany.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK *

Celebrate a Brilliant Christmas Seasonal celebrations at The Pointer.

T

he Pointer is a pub with a difference. It has a beautiful dining room in a converted barn, their own butchers and farm producing around 70 ingredients used on their plates.

They have an ever increasing herd of Longhorn cattle, rare breed pigs and now their own lambs.

Head Chef Mini Patel uses the seasons to create classic British food with a creative twist showcasing the very best produce The Pointer has to offer.

Why not join them for a festive Lunch or Dinner throughout December from ÂŁ19.50 per person.

Lunch 12pm until 2.30pm (5pm Sunday) Dinner 6.30pm until 9pm (10pm Friday and Saturday) The Kitchen is closed all day Monday and Sunday evening The Pointer is also taking reservations for New Years Eve. The price is ÂŁ75 per person for a 6 course menu including canapes and Champagne on arrival.

Please call or email for more information: The Pointer 27 Church St Brill, Buckinghamshire HP18 9RT 01844 238339 info@thepointerbrill.com

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Thame Out .45

FOOD & DRINK *

A cut above for fifty years This year marked fifty years since the founding of M Newitt and Sons here in Thame, one of the finest independent butchers in the country.

Matthew Stockmore pays a visit in order to load his fridge with some luscious Christmas meat.

N

ewitts, the butchers, has been a feature of Thame High Street since 1965. A long history. And its success has been rooted in its commitment to the local community.

The local community of customers and the local community of food producers.

Recognition of Newitts enduring family-run independence and its promise of meats of the very finest quality can be judged by the number of accolades it has received: founder members of the Q Guild, the body that represents the UK’s best meat retailers; voted, not once but twice, Britain’s Best Butcher, and accorded numerous other awards over the years. The latest of which is for making the Best Steak Pie in the UK. Tom Newitt, who now runs the business, points out that the shop is more than just a cornucopia of meats, of joints, loins, shoulders, necks, minces, steaks and every other cut imaginable, be it beef, pork, chicken, venison or game bird. It is a delicatessen too. The pies that are conjured in the bakery at the rear of the premises - deep-filled with delicious meats and swathed in melt-in-the-mouth pastries - are handmade following traditional recipes. The sausages - shaped with wholly natural casings - are handmade too in the shop’s kitchen and are plump not just with

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juicy shoulder of pork but with fragrant herbs and spices. Elsewhere, cottage pies, lasagnes and curries cram the displays.

Not to mention the Scotch eggs, pasties, sausage rolls, cheese, pates and salads.

Enticing though the fare on view is, I have a pressing question. Isn’t all this a bit, well, expensive? Tom laughs. “It’s a common misconception that good meat means more cost,” he says. “But it simply isn’t true. Not at all. Compared with supermarkets we are some 20% to 30% cheaper, gram per gram, kilo per kilo.” Really? “Yes, really,” he confirms.

“And our meat is so much better too. All our meat is what we call dry-aged. That means that it is matured on the bone so that when you come to cook it there’s an added dimension of taste, texture and flavour. Supermarkets don’t dry-age they vacuum-pack their meats in water sucking out all those subtle cooking riches.”

Tom is equally keen to point out that the quality of Newitt’s meat doesn’t just begin with the way it is prepared.

“We always make sure that we select the very best meat even before it comes to the method of treating the cuts,” he continues. “We only ever choose the top 5% of the national stock, animals that have lived natural, healthy lives. Our cuts of red meat, for example, are always from good breeds with a good shape and a good level of fat cover. The meat is

marbled beautifully so that it is juicier and tastier. Lots of supermarkets cuts lack that essential fat marbling - leaving it dry and impoverished - and so lacking the piquant depth of our meat.” Newitt’s love of the finest meat has led them into a partnership with Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons to uncover great suppliers of British veal.

I have another question. About the approach of Christmas. What kind of turkey can I expect from Newitts?

“To mark our fiftieth anniversary, and to mark our commitment to local producers, we introduced a policy of trying to source our products, wherever possible, from within a 20-mile radius of Thame,” Tom explains.

True to their word, Newitts have indeed sourced their Christmas turkeys locally. From a farm they set up themselves (and well within that 20-mile radius). “The turkeys have been fed on food grown at the farm itself, so there is a natural nutritional balance,” says Tom. “All the turkeys are genuinely freerange, roaming the fields and woodlands during the day while coming in to safe roosting sheds at night. All of our birds reach maturity - that’s between 25 and 26 weeks old - unlike supermarket birds that rarely make it above 12 weeks old.

Because we can manage their welfare and care and nutrition, our turkeys are so much more flavoursome, and

Tom with his free-range Turkeys

No wonder Newitts is a butcher’s shop that’s a cut above the rest. And has been for the past 50 years.

Newitts’ turkeys can be ordered in the shop or on their website at www.newitt.co.uk

because we can manage the costs of their upbringing, our turkeys are up to 20% less expensive than our birds were last year. And every bit as tasty.”

Want a change from turkey this Christmas? How about Newitt’s pork

(also free range), duck or chicken? The geese have flown in from a little further afield than 20 miles admittedly (from a farm in Worcestershire) but meet Newitt’s same exacting standards for breeding, plumpness and tastiness.

M Newitt & Sons 10 High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 2BZ 01844 212103 orders@newitt.co.uk www.newitt.co.uk

Follow Newitts on twitter: @NewittsofThame

Thame Out .47

FOOD & DRINK *

Sponsored by

If your bottle of wine could talk, what might it say? Asks Jerome Harlington.

O

n occasions when the wine is flowing, high spirits abound and tongues are loosened it’s not unusual the following morning to hear the slightly apologetic phrase that ‘the wine was talking’.

But what if the wine really could talk?

What might it say?

I think that today’s wine is feeling very much misunderstood. Things have moved on impressively over the past decade but the perception among many is that wine is still on the one hand either elitist, snobby and out of reach for most pockets; or on the other hand branded generic alcoholic grape juice named after some creek or hill available in every outlet under the sun.

Meanwhile glancing over at the other drinks sections beer is feeling particularly smug about life. The Craft Beer movement has taken hold and discovering the new daft punk beer or siren call gladiator brew seems to be excruciatingly fashionable amongst everyone from young hipsters, 40 somethings to retirement home residents across the UK. It’s hard to imagine that it wasn’t that long ago that real ale was so unfashionable it had almost become extinct.

On another shelf, spirits, especially gins, are feeling extremely pleased with themselves too. There now seems to be a boutique gin distillery in every village across the Country, even from places as unlikely as Macclesfield! And these gins are commanding eye watering prices well over £50 for a single bottle.

Festivals and venues and bars and restaurants across the Country are making a huge play on their range of craft beers and spirits and people are travelling far and wide to enjoy them and to tweet their new ‘craft’ find to a fully engaged audience.

But what about the wine? In these same festivals, venues, bars and restaurants across the Country the wine choice is shameful and generally mediocre in quality and taste.

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Don’t bottle it up With the whites you have a choice of mass market pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc and the red choices are usually a cabernet, shiraz or pinot noir.

If the poor misunderstood wine bottle could talk, looking from the outside in at these smug beers and spirits, it would be crying out that wine is the most diverse drink on the planet, with thousands of grape varieties, regions and flavours to explore! Why are these places only offering generic alcoholic grape juice?

The truth is there are thousands of young wine makers out there making really interesting craft wines, pushing the boundaries and showing incredible diversity that will suit all tastes. At Trailblazing Wine we champion these small growers of Craft Wines but the siren call from today’s craft bottle of wine is: ‘please ask more from the venues that supply craft beer and gin but rubbish wine. Tell them that they don’t have

to sell rubbish wine, they can sell craft wine that will wow their customers and complete their range of artisan beers and spirits. Wine needs to be part of the mix too - it’s too delicious to miss out on craft wine! l To join the debate email jerome@ trailblazingwine.com or download the app to discover real craft wines by searching Trailblazing Wine in the App store or Google Play.

www.trailblazingwine.com +44 (0)1865 339353 Mobile:+44 (0)7886 916857

The Rising Sun and the east

If you want to enjoy the delights of a traditional British pub – oak beams, stone floors, great beers – and the flavours of fantastic Thai cuisine, there is nowhere better than the Rising Sun in Thame.

Christmas and New Year at The Rising Sun CHRISTMAS EVE Live Disco with DJ KRISTIAN 10.00pm until late. FREE entry

CHRISTMAS DAY

b Food served until 10.30pm b Takeaways available b Lunchtime specials for people in a hurry b Tuesday is quiz night (cash prizes) b Now with an extra bitter on tap b Live music every other Saturday b Watch Sky Sports & BT live b Loyalty card available (ask in pub) b Half price cocktails every Monday b Find us on Facebook The Rising Sun, 26 High Street,Thame OX9 2BZ

01844 214206 www.risingsun-thame.co.uk

Open for festive drinks 12.00 to 3.00pm (No food available)

BOXING DAY

Normal Saturday opening hours

27th DECEMBER

Live music from KIERON COX 9.00pm until late. FREE entry

NEW YEAR’S EVE Live music from JAMES LAINEY 9.00pm until late. FREE entry

NEW YEAR’S DAY Closed for staff party!

GLASS JEWELLERY LEATHERWORK WOOD

Celebrating the unusual

fitch & fellows

in creative craftsmanship

CERAMICS

Everything you find in fitch & fellows is the culmination of the artists’ skill, experience, imagination and flair.

Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10.30am – 5.30pm 1 East Street, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3JS 01844 215099 fitchandfellows@gmail.com

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Thame Out .51

BUSINESS *

Five star

T

hame Service Station has long been renowned for its innovative approach to vehicle and customer care. Proof of which is the introduction of the Thame Service Station ‘Tyre Hotel’. “It’s a fairly recent innovation,” explains Barry at Thame Service Station’s specialist tyre centre. “What happens is that customers can bring their cars in and we’ll replace their normal tyres with a set that’s designed to cope with everything that the cold and wet can throw at you.

We’ll store their ‘rest-of-the-year’ tyres on protected racks which means there’s no need to clutter up their own garage. And the storage is completely free of charge.”

Why the need for special winter tyres?

“They are specifically designed to handle both autumnal and wintry conditions,” says Barry. “In fact, conditions on any day when the temperature dips below 7 degrees centigrade. They are made of a softer compound – there is more rubber on them too – offering drivers a much better grip. The colder it gets, whether there is snow or not, the better they perform. Not only do you get safer handling of the car or van, your stopping distance is shortened significantly as well.

Thame is surrounded by country roads that can get pretty tricky in cold weather.

So it’s a smart idea to have your tyres

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checked now to make sure they are up to the task of negotiating them. And to replace the tyres if necessary. ”It is said that tyres are amongst a car’s most important pieces of engineering. Keeping the journey smooth, keeping the journey safe. And that’s particularly the case come winter.

It may seem that autumn has barely left us but, as Barry reminds me, it is always best to prepare in advance for the changing of the seasons. “I mean, you don’t check your car’s heating system when it’s already freezing cold,” he says. “So why leave making sure your car is fitted with the right tyres for cold

weather conditions until the roads are already icy or covered in snow?”

A fair point. “It’s important to keep the tyres on your car or van in tip-top condition all year round,” explains Barry.

“They are the only point of contact between you and the road, and are vital in the influence they have on safety – steering – and cost – fuel efficiency.

We tend to take them for granted, but they’re the part of a car that takes all the punishment. And that’s especially true in winter. The heavy rains, the frosts, the ice, the snow. They don’t just make driving conditions more difficult in themselves; they have an effect on

service

Matthew Stockmore takes a short drive to Thame Service Station’s tyre shop on Park Street, to check that his car is safe for driving when Winter really takes hold.

Scott

road surfaces too as the fluctuations in temperature can play havoc with the way the tarmac binds. Potholes implode everywhere. Even though last winter was relatively mild, we still saw customers pouring in with tyre problems.”

“If you hit a pothole or a kerbstone,” Barry continues, “you may think nothing of it, but the impact can create a bulge in the wall of the tyre. This will cause a part of the tyre to wear out quicker than the rest, putting you at risk of a blow out.

An inspection will spot the damage.

And you should get the wheel alignment of your car checked out regularly too.

When the alignment is thrown, it means

that the steering will drift a little to the left or to the right, wearing down the tyres and soaking up extra fuel in compensation for the veer. Oh, and then there’s the valves and wheel balancing: these need to be right too because it stops steering wheel vibration and prolongs the life of your tyres. So they should be checked as well.”

I notice the tyre shop’s state-of-theart testing and fitting centre, from which emerges the hum of machinery as cars and vans are scrupulously tended to.

“We make sure that our mechanics are fully and professionally trained,” Barry explains, “and that our equipment is

the best.” In the tyre shop’s brightly lit interior I see rows upon rows of neatly stacked tyres.

As well as expert, and very friendly, advice on winter driving, Thame Service Station tyre shop stocks tyres for pretty much all the popular makes of cars, 4x4s and vans. If the tyre you need isn’t housed on one of the shelves, then it will be ordered and with the centre inside 24 hours. “Our prices are really, really competitive too,” adds Barry. “The prices we quote will itemise everything that needs to be done: the cost of the tyre as well as the fitting and the balancing and the alignment.”

It’s winter. Take good care of four of the most important parts of your car.

Those wheels and tyres.

If you are concerned about the state of your tyres and or if you are wondering whether they are up to the task of facing the winter, visit www.thame-tyres.co.uk. All you need do is type in your vehicle’s registration number and you will be told exactly the sort of tyres that you have fitted. Thame Service Station will see to the rest.

Thame Service Station 67-68 Park Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3HT www.tsscars.co.uk 01844 854015

Thame Out .53

LIFESTYLE *

P

aul Wilkinson is a nationally renowned portrait photographer.

Indeed, such is his reputation Paul was invited to put together a book on the subject. Mastering Portrait Photography not only includes some of Paul’s finest portraits but also a whole range of insightful tips and practical advice on how to achieve fantastic portraits of your own.

The book, which was co-written with Sarah Plater, is a marriage of method and artistry. “The camera isn’t just a piece of equipment for processing and preserving the effects of light, an exercise in engineering and physics,” said Paul.

“It has the aesthetic power of painting and sculpture. It allows us - and I mean any camera, any photographer - the chance to freeze a moment, a memory in a way that is truly full of the moment and memorable. We can all do it, just so long as we get the basics right and then add an imaginative, intuitive sense of the image we are taking.”

So what of the basics? “Well, technique is hugely important,” continued Paul. “But reading the light and getting the most from your location are key.

But it’s the human factor that is vital – more so than anything else. “I believe that a photograph, for all its technical sophistication, has to do something more then be technical to be good,” added Paul. “It has to tell a story. For those who know the person in the photograph, it’s a matter of capturing a personality, a character, a memory. For those who don’t know the person, it’s a matter of the shot giving us the space to invent a narrative, to imagine a history, a present and a future for the subject of the portrait, someone we will never meet but who we can care about as we look at the photograph.”

Mastering Portrait Photography sets out all the methods that are the basis of striking portraiture. But it also describes the feel, the sense, the vision of a portrait too, which is also something that can be learned.

“I know that talking about an ‘intuitive’ photograph suggests some instinctive, some indefinable quality, but it’s really more about training your photographer’s eye and about getting a relationship with your subject,” said Paul. “And telling their all-important story.”

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Portrait artist Award-winning portrait photographer, Paul Wilkinson, has just brought out a new book that aims to give everyone with a camera the opportunity to take subtle, emotive, compelling and story-telling shots. Andrew Cohen went along to his Haddenham studio to find out more about the secrets of capturing great images of people.

He walks me through a few of the 200 images that feature in the book to explain.

“Take the cover shot,” he said.

“A little boy called Ben. He was three at the time, and his family had arranged a shoot. Ben had been outdoors playing.

It was a bright summer’s day, drenched in colours. I looked at the shots I had taken and thought, that this didn’t completely reflect the character that his parent’s described. Once inside, I asked Ben to look down at his favourite toy car on the floor. He glanced down at it. I knew I had my shot there and then - Ben wholly absorbed and unselfconscious and in this shot his mum saw her Ben. “

Making the most of a location is the key to many of Paul’s images. In the image of Cimmie the background adds texture and interest and she is perfectly framed in the doorway. By contrast the unusual family portrait, shot in Greenwich Park uses the background, the bench, their position on it and little Oscar’s gaze to tell their story.

“The final image is of Pauline” says Paul, “who was simply beautiful and well into her eighties. To get the shot took all of my skill as a portrait photographer – and it was mostly about bringing out her character. At first she was extremely reluctant to have her photo taken. But as we chatted, she became more and more relaxed, recounting her memories of the war and so much more. At last, with her confidence gained, she relented and allowed me to take her portrait. It won the Classical Portrait of the Year Award.

For me it was forty years of professional experience condensed into 1/180th of a second. For her it was a lifetime extended for as long as anyone chooses to view that photograph.”

Mastering Portrait Photography is available from all good book shops and is the perfect present for the enthusiastic photographer or contact Paul’s studio to find out more about creating your story.

k COM PETITIONk Win a signed copy of Paul’s superb book Mastering Portrait Photography.

See page 66.

6 High Street, Haddenham Bucks HP17 8ER 01844 291000 studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk

Thame Out .55

BUSINESS *

A career closer Check out great career opportunities at Travelodge’s Head Office in Thame

T

ravelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, operates over 500 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain. Hotels can be found in all major cities, towns, airports and popular holiday locations. Their Sleepy Hollow office is located on Aylesbury Road in Thame and from there a team of almost 300 act as a support centre to all these hotels and 10,000 colleagues.

The company is growing at pace, and has identified the potential to open a further 250 hotels across the UK, creating more than 3,000 new jobs. To support this expansion, Travelodge is looking to fill 150 positions at Sleepy Hollow over the next 12 months.

The company offers a range of fantastic careers in areas such as: finance, legal, customer services, operations, revenue management, HR, marketing, digital, sales and IT. You can keep up to date with vacancies at Travelodge through their careers website: www.travelodge.co.uk/careers/ As well as these website details, Thame Out is giving readers an extra taste of what life is like working at Travelodge, as we’ve spoken to some of the team to find out more.

Julia Rosamond, Travelodge HR Director said: “This is a very exciting time for Travelodge. We currently have 524 hotels and we are opening new ones all the time. To help support this growth across our business, we are looking for passionate people to join our team.”

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Melissa Area Revenue Manager What is it like working at Sleepy Hollow?

Sleepy Hollow acts as a support centre to more than 500 hotels, so all the main central functions are based here, including the senior executive team.

There are 300 people working in departments such as marketing, IT, finance, customer service, sales, HR and revenue management.

It is an inspiring place to work.

It is fast paced and professional but lots of fun too. There is a great friendly culture.

You work in revenue. What does an area revenue manager do?

It’s my responsibility to set the correct pricing strategy for 250 hotels, and coach a team of revenue managers to support this strategy.

You might think we just set a price

to home and then sell rooms but it’s far more complex and scientific than that. Every single hotel is different and they have a range of factors affecting business, such as the customer mix, local events and even the weather. It is my role to assess these factors and then price accordingly and competitively.

Did you study revenue management to get into the role?

I had no revenue management experience when I joined Travelodge three years ago. My previous experience was in office space hire so it was a massive career change. I saw the role advertised in the local newspaper and applied. During my interview, I had to complete a series of tests which I did well in, and I was offered the position.

I was worried that my lack of experience might count against me but luckily Travelodge spotted my potential and helped develop it. Since joining the company, I have been promoted twice and I have a great career here.

Gareth Business Development Team Manager Why did you join the Travelodge team?

I was a professional golfer but I have always been interested in sales as a career.

When I saw an opportunity to build a great career in a growing business, I knew I had to explore it. When I came for my interview and learnt more about the role, I just knew that it was the perfect job for me. I still play golf, but less competitively these days.

What does your job entail?

One of Travelodge’s biggest growth channels is corporate business. Over the last two years we have grown this side of our business fourfold. Today over half of the FTSE 100 companies use Travelodge on a regular basis and our biggest corporate customer is the Government. Following a £100 million modernisation programme across our UK hotels, we are now seeing more and more businesses book with us through our

dedicated business website. My team and I are responsible for growing this customer base and for looking after our business customers.

What do you look for in a new team member?

At Travelodge we are always on the lookout for people who are enthusiastic, motivated and who possess a professional and confident attitude. They need to have a real passion for the brand and be proactive. As long as they have these skills we can help with development and provide the support needed to build a great career.

Since I joined Travelodge, I have been promoted twice in two years after joining as a Business Development Manager. Today I manage a team of 12 and that just goes to show how quickly and how far you can go at Travelodge.

How would you describe your colleagues at Sleepy Hollow in a sentence?

Great people who are passionate about what they do.

Thame Out .57

James Butcher Regional Finance Manager What do you do at Travelodge?

I am a Regional Finance Manager and I have financial responsibility for 150 hotels.

I set and monitor hotel budgets, look after financial reporting, and ensure the hotels meet financial targets. It’s certainly challenging at times but exciting too.

Have you always worked in finance?

Like hundreds of other people at Travelodge, I’ve been lucky enough to develop a new career within the business.

I joined 12 years ago and I have worked in a number of roles, mostly within hotels and the operations function. However, I have a head for numbers and the world of finance always called out to me.

How did you go about changing careers at Travelodge? Was it easy?

It was very easy. Travelodge is incredibly supportive in terms of encouraging and supporting career development. When I told my line manager I was interested in switching careers, he could not have been more helpful. Lots of colleagues at Travelodge have done the same thing.

Supporting career progression is one of Travelodge’s great strengths as an employer.

The move happened incredibly quickly, and Travelodge has also sponsored me to Nicola Food & Beverage Product Manager What does your job involve?

I am responsible for developing all menus and food and beverage products at Travelodge. I taste and test a variety of food and drink in that role which is great! I conduct in-depth research with customers, create product offerings based on that feedback, and help market these to our leisure and business customers.

How did you get into food and drink at Travelodge?

I am passionate about food and drink, and found a marketing job in the sector after finishing school. In order to develop my skill set I wanted to gain more customer experience and take responsibility for developing bespoke food and drink product offers. I came across the advert and was delighted to be selected as it was a very competitive selection process.

Travelodge is a very customerfocused company and everything we develop and roll out is based on research. My role sits within the

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marketing team so I work very closely with the brand and digital teams to ensure product launches are successful and are visible online for customers to see.

Just recently, we have launched our new breakfast menu which I have been working on for over a year. The launch has been a great success and already it is delivering great sales.

What is it like working at Sleepy Hollow?

For me, Sleepy Hollow is all about teamwork. Everyone gets on so well with each other and there is a real buzz.

As well as working in the office here in Thame, there is plenty of scope to get out into hotels and travel too. The only challenge is choosing where to go when you have over 500 hotels.

study for my accounting qualifications too.

I’ll be studying for four years in total, when I finish I will be a chartered accountant, which is incredibly exciting for me.

Describe life at Travelodge in three words?

Friendly, open and customer-focused.

You can keep up to date with vacancies at Travelodge. Go to www.travelodge.co.uk/careers/

Emma Lucy photography

Notley Tythe Barn

To stage a great event today, go back to the 12th century.

Notley Tythe Barn is a beautiful, fully restored 12thcentury barn set in picturesque gardens within 500 acres of pasture land at the foot of the Chiltern Hills. It is also an elegant and unique venue for weddings, receptions, parties, celebrations and other special events.

Visit our fabulous

Wedding Fayre

Sunday 31st January 11.00am – 3.00pm Notley Farm, Chearsley Road, Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire HP18 9ER

T. 01844 201226 F. 01844 201226 E. weddings@notleyfarm.co.uk www.notleyfarm.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT *

Playing at the Oxford Playhouse Photograph: Geraint Lewis

ALADDIN 27 November –19 January 2016

Oxford Playhouse is putting on a fantastic pantomime, Aladdin, which is wowing audiences.

Steve Marmion, Artistic Director of Soho Theatre and a veteran of acclaimed pantos at the Lyric Hammersmith and Theatre Royal Plymouth, is taking over the reins as writer and director for the first time in Oxford. Steve is joined by a whole new team, including Nigel Betts (most recently seen as the father in BBC2’s Boy Meets Girl) making his ‘dame debut’ as Widow Twankey. Nigel has appeared at the West End, Soho Theatre and with the RSC, and has a plethora of TV credits.

Adam Samuel-Bal is playing the lead role of Aladdin. Adam trained at the Guildford School of Acting, and since leaving has toured the UK in various productions, including most recently Tamasha Theatre’s hit tour of Blood.

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Kiran Sonia Sawar is Princess Perfect Rose. Kiran graduated from The Oxford School of Drama, and most recently played the lead role in The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Unicorn Theatre. She is also a Youth Ambassador for Youth Charter, a UK based charity and United Nations NGO. Paul Barnhill is playing the classic panto baddie, Abanazer. Having worked with companies such as Headlong, the RSC and Northern Broadsides, and in the West End, his most recent work includes Rupert Gould’s The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe at the 360 Theatre in Kensington Gardens.

Joining them is David Rubin, an RSC regular, as the Genie/Emperor; Rochelle Rose as the Spirit of The Ring; Nathan Bryon, a regular on BBC hit show Some Girls, as Wishee Washee; and Jessica-Lee

Hopkins as Pee King Duck. The ensemble includes Ryan Carter in his professional debut, Adam Colborne, and Gemma Harvey.

This pantomime will truly be filled with wonders. Join Aladdin and his crew for a sure-fire magic-carpet ride to remember!

Tickets for Aladdin at Oxford Playhouse start at £15

k COM PETITIONk WIN TICKETS TO SEE ALADDIN. Saturday 19th Dec at 7pm tickets for a family of four Wednesday 30th Dec at 7pm tickets for a family of four Sunday 3rd Jan at 11am tickets for a family of four See page 66.

Ticket Office: 01865 305305 l www.oxfordplayhouse.com

MEADOW VIEW PARK

Your wedding day will be one of the most memorable days in your life so naturally you will want everything to be perfect.

Attention to detail is of paramount importance to us and we can ensure that your requirements are met in every way.

If you are considering a wedding breakfast and evening reception, Meadow View Park is an ideal location and with over 160 spaces, no need to worry about parking! The Blanchford Suite has it’s own private bar, air conditioning, sound system, seating for

up to I20 guests, and for bigger parties the adjoining room can be incorporated to give you greater flexibility and numbers for dancing and evening entertainment.

For larger weddings we can add a Marquee to the building to increase capacity; please ask for details.

We have a selection of wedding menus, evening buffet ideas and a wine list to complement your wedding breakfast.

Our team at Meadow View Park believe it is important you enjoy the experience of plaming your wedding.

To find out more about how we can make your date unforgettable, or to view the facilities available please contact us at admin@thamefootball.co.uk or 01844 214401 Meadow View Park, Tythrop Way, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3RN www.thamefootball.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT *

What’s new at the Annie

New Theatre

earlier this year in Calamity Jane.

Jodie Prenger is probably best known for winning the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of Oliver! through the BBC television series I’d Do Anything.

During her run in the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane she received both critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the role. She has also starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of One Man, Two Guvnors both in the West End and on tour and as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. Jodie is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage.

Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow.

Gangsta Granny is a must for all families as the show will be enjoyed by everyone from 5 to 105! It’s both laugh out loud funny with some brilliant comic scenes but also has some very moving and truthful things to say about family relationships.

Walliams’, who is one of the judges on the popular Britain’s Got Talent TV show and creator of the ground-breaking

comedy series, Little Britain, is now the best-selling author for children in the country.

“I am over the moon that ‘Gangsta Granny’ is coming to the stage,” said David. “It’s the most popular of all my books, and I am sure this production by the brilliant Birmingham Stage Company will delight not just children but their parents and of course grandparents.”

15 Dec – 3 Jan 2016

YOU can bet your bottom dollar that this Christmas will be a great one at the New Theatre as Annie takes over for the festive season.

The show, which runs from December 15 to January 3, will star Jodie Prenger, who was seen at the theatre

Gangsta Granny 12 – 16 Jan 2016 Get ready as criminal master-mind Gangsta Granny and her grandson have their sights set on Oxford.

Birmingham Stage Company, the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories, are bringing their world premiere of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny to the New Theatre Oxford from January 12 – 16, immediately prior to a West End run.

It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny. There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be so boring.

But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased from the New Theatre box office on George Street, by ringing 0844 871 3020, or by visiting our website at www.atgtickets.com/oxford (phone and internet bookings subject to booking/transaction fees).

For bookings of 10 or more, and for Equal Access bookings, please call our dedicated in-house team on 0844 871 3040.

62. Thame Out

Chicago 12 – 20 February 2016

“Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts”… so begins the international award-winning musical Chicago, which opens a national tour at the New Theatre Oxford on Friday 12 February 2016 starring John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart and Sam Bailey as Mama Morton.

John Partridge is probably best known for playing the role of Christian Clarke in EastEnders. His many musical theatre credits include Rum Tum Tugger in Cats in the West End, on tour and the official film of the show, John in Miss Saigon on the first UK national tour and most recently Zach in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. John was also a judge on BBC1’s Over the Rainbow, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search to find a Dorothy for the musical The

Wizard of Oz. Hayley Tamaddon has just finished playing Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street. She also played Del Dingle in Emmerdale. Her numerous theatre credits include The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot and Janet in The Rocky Horror Show. Hayley also won the 5th series of ITV1’s Dancing on Ice. Sam Bailey worked as a prison officer at HM Prison Gartree for three years until 2013. At the end of that year Sam won the tenth series of The X Factor receiving more than a million votes over the course of the final weekend. Following her win, her debut single Skyscraper was released and achieved the Christmas Number One. This was followed in 2014 with her debut album, The Power of Love, reaching number one in the album charts.

Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s, nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with cell block rival, double-murderess

Velma Kelly, they fight to keep from death row with the help of smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics) and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, Chicago’s sexy, sassy score includes All That Jazz and Razzle Dazzle. With 6 Tony, 2 Olivier, 1 Grammy, 2 Bafta and 6 Academy Awards, Chicago truly is “The sharpest, slickest show on the block” (The Times). A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell block of sin: it would be a crime to miss it.

Chicago, which is based on the play

by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book

by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher. Chicago is choreographed

by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie.

Thame Out .63

LISTINGS *

What & where & when 13 14 - 19 22 - 26 27 28 30

NEW THEATRE – OXFORD www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk 0870 606 3500 December 11 Frankie Boyle Hurt Like You’ve Never Been Loved 15 - 3 Jan Annie 19 New Theatre Backstage Tour January 12 - 16 Gangsta Granny 18 An Evening with Col Chris Hadfield 19 The Johnny Cash Roadshow 22 Rebecca Ferguson 23 Barry Steele & Friends: The Orbison Story 26 - 30 Last Night a DJ Saved My Life 31 Paul Carrack in Concert February 1&2 Moscow State Circus 3 Brendan Cole 4 The Classic Rock Show 2016 5 Mercury: The Ultimate Queen Tribute 6 25 Years of Reeves and Mortimer 12 - 20 Chicago The Musical 22 The Snow Maiden (RSB) 23 Giselle 24 Swan Lake (RSB) 25 Ellen Kent’s Die Fledermaus 26 Ellen Kent’s Tosca 27 Ellen Kent’s Carmen 28 TEDxOxford - FindX March 1-5 Blood Brothers 8 - 12 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

64. Thame Out

Jason Donovan Thriller Live Goodnight Mister Tom Simply the Best Divas Collabro Mister Maker Live

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE www.oxfordplayhouse.com 01865 305305 December 1-5 Ten Duets on a Theme of Proximity 1-5 Onlife 10 - 3 Jan Dear Father Christmas 27 Nov - 10 Jan Aladdin 10 - 3 Jan Dear Father Christmas January 7-9 The Trials Of Galileo 11 Sunspots 12 - 13 Rove 14 - 15 Learning How To Die 14 Reduced Shakespeare Company 15 Stewart Lee: A Room With A Stew 16 Katherine Ryan 16 OXJAMS 20 Carmen 21 - 22 Josh Widdicombe 23 Showstopper!

27 - 30 Rent February 2-6 Flare Path 9 - 13 Hetty Feather 16 - 20 Toast 22 - 27 King Charles III 29 Russell Kane March 2-3 Opus 7 4-5 Medea 8 - 12 Sense And Sensibility 14 Dillie Keane 18 - 19 Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead 21 - 26 Single Spies

THE PLAYERS THEATRE – THAME www.thameplayers.co.uk The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 2DP December 4th to 6th and 9th to 13th December Puss In Boots Thame Players return to the tried and tested family style of pantomime with this year’s production of Puss in Boots.

Full of corny jokes, colourful songs and dances, comic characters, goodies and baddies, and of course, the good fairy who helps our hero triumph over evil in the end.

January 23 YES PLEASE Play YES! With around 35 million recordings sold, Yes, the greatest progressive rock band, had huge success in the 70s with albums such as Fragile, The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, Topographic Oceans, Relayer and Going for the One. February 5 Black Frog presents ...

Join us for another great night at The Players Theatre as local record label, BFS Records, showcases some of the best musicians from Thame and beyond.

March 12 Mari Wilson’s Ready Steady Girls Following her sellout 2014 shows – Mari Sings Dusty – Mari launches her brand new show Ready Steady Girls featuring unique interpretations of the songs that influenced her as she was growing up 20 Oh Goody – An Audience with Tim Brooke-Taylor Tim Brooke-Taylor has been delighting audiences with his gentle, zany humour ever since he rocketed from the Cambridge Footlights into West End stardom

WATERSIDE THEATRE 0844 871 7607 December 11 - 3 Jan Dick Whittington 16 ROH Live Screening - The Nutcracker January 7 ENO The Barber of Seville Encore Screening 8 Big Band Dance Night with Down for the Count 8 - 6 Comedy Club 9 Silver Wheels Roller Disco 14 - 16 OLIVER - A musical by RARE Productions Youth Theatre 19 - 23 The Glenn Miller Story 21 Aida on Sydney Harbour Encore Screening 28 NT: Les Liaisons Dangereuses Live Screening February 2 Fairport Convention 3 Rumours of Fleetwood Mac 4 ROH Live Screening - La Traviata 4 Lets Twist Again 5 Jethro 6 Clare Teal and her Mini Big Band 7 Anton and Erin Just Gotta Dance 11 - 13 Rambert 19 Viva Neil Diamond 20 Big Country in concert 22 - 27 Rehearsal for Murder March 1 - 5 End of the Rainbow 7 - 12 Private Lives 14 - 19 Annie 21 ROH Live Screening - Boris Godunov 25 The Dire Straits Experience 29 The Magic of Motown 30 Tap Factory 31 Tell Me On A Sunday MISC December 27 - 3 Jan Mince Pie specials.

Risborough Railway January 23 Thame Choral Society Quiz Night, Haddenham Community Centre 7:30pm for 8.00pm.

Up to 3 Waterperry Gardens Find Santa’s Reindeer in the gardens.

COMPETITIONS *

b

Win.Win.Win.

There are some great prizes to be picked up in this issue of Thame Out. You will need to submit a separate entry for each competition that you wish to take part in. All you have to do is answer the particular competition question and send your answer on a postcard marked, for example, personal trainer competition or, say, Oxford Playhouse competition to Thame Out, PO Box 181, Thame OX9 0BA. Closing date for entries is the 14th December 2015. Alternatively, you can email your answer to julian@red-l.co.uk

Wordplay from wordsmith Sandra Smith Find the correct definition of the following three words.

Answers below.

1. Humectant (A) A substance such as skin lotion used to reduce the loss of moisture.

(B) An individual noted for their wit.

Personal Trainer Competition A FREE training session with Hilary Westall will go to the first correct entry out of the hat.

The question Hilary’s column was inspired by which writer/ comedienne? a) Dawn French b) Jennifer Saunders c) Ruby Wax (See page 12 for details)

Paul Wilkinson Competition A FREE signed copy of Paul Wilkinson’s book Mastering Portrait Photography will go to the first correct entry out of the hat.

The question The boy featured on the cover of Paul’s book is called? a) Ben b) Barney c) Billy (See page 55 for details)

Oxford Playhouse Competition Three family tickets (4 people each) to see Aladdin on the 19th & 30th December and 3rd January will go to the first three correct entries out of the hat.

The question Ticket prices for Aladdin start at? a) £10 b) £15 c) £20 (See page 60 for details)

And the winners were Congratulations to our last issue winners.

Conditions 1. One prize per household 2. There is no cash alternative 3. The judges’ decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into

66. Thame Out

Personal Trainer Prize – Toni Mears, Aylesbury Oxford Playhouse Tickets – Bill Parkinson, Chinnor Lisa Lyon, Brill

(C) Generic term for the steady, continuous sound of an insect.

2. June (A) In early Tudor times, an alternate name for Midsummer.

(B) The process of removing nails from previously used planks of wood.

(C) To hurry or move in a lively fashion.

3. Revenant (A) One who respects or venerates an elder.

(B) A visible ghost or animated corpse returned from the grave to terrorise the living.

(C) A pledge between related monarchs.

Sandra Smith FREELANCE WRITER CREATIVE WRITING TUTOR E: sandra.smith81@btinternet.com www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk Twitter twitter.com/TheCurrentMrsS 01296 624759 07788 552871 1. Humectant answer: (A) A substance such as skin lotion used to reduce the loss of moisture.

2. June answer: (C) To hurry or move in a lively fashion.

3. Revenant answer: (B) A visible ghost or animated corpse returned from the grave to terrorise the living.

Free Book Competition A FREE SIGNED copy of ‘The Cracking Cryptics Guide’ by Tony Long will go to the first correct entry out of the hat.

The question Tony is a member of ...? a) Thame Players b) Thame Utd c) Thame Choir (See page 4 for details)