Thame Out Summer 2015 Issue 34

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

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 *

THAME OUT *

Contents

4. LOCAL NEWS –Local Author, The Big Thame Bake, Local Band, and Poseytude Gallery.

6. HEALTH & BEAUTY – Expert Eye Care, Eye Care, Personal Training, and Health Regime 14. FASHION & LIFESTYLE – Kismet Jewellery, Gallant Menswear, White Hart Studio, Thame Institute of Music, The House Whisperer, and Thame Jewellery Workshop.

24. HOME & GARDEN –Turn End Gardens, Ridgeway Kitchens and Kingsey Kitchens 38. TRAVEL – Dubai and The Maldives.

42. EDUCATION – Rye St Antony School.

44. FOOD & DRINK – Wine Column and The House of Spice 48. BUSINESS – Thame Service Station and Darbys Solicitors.

56. OUT & ABOUT – Art In Action and Towersey Festival 62. ENTERTAINMENT – New Theatre and Oxford Playhouse.

65. LISTINGS 66. COMPETITIONS Cover: Paul Wilkinson See page 32.

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.

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.

GREAT SUMMER OFFERS Contact us or call in for details

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

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

LOCAL NEWS *

The first from The 2 Strokes

The 15th May saw the much-anticipated release of ‘Boomshanka’ - the debut single from local band, The 2 Strokes. The Thame-based trio, have spent the last 12 months recording their debut album at Blackfrog Studios in Thame, and the release of ‘Boomshanka’ will provide a first glimpse of what’s to come.

When asked about the inspiration behind the song, frontman, Brandon Coleman said: “’Boomshanka’ was born out of my interest in absolutely everything. The problem with wanting to know everything is that the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. So to summarize the song I’d say I’m smart enough to know I’m stupid”.

The 2 Strokes play a unique fusion of Ska, Blues and Rock, and are defined by their energetic performances and captivating stage presence.

The band regularly performs in Thame, with recent shows at The Players Theatre, The Black Horse and The Falcon.

‘Boomshanka’ is available on iTunes, Amazon now.

The Big Thame Bake

Catch some art at The Fishes The Fishes in North Hinksey is once again giving over its glorious garden to a fantastic festival of art when it plays host to the Summer Oxford Art Fair on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August.

More than 40 artists from Oxford, Abingdon, Thame and further afield will gather in The Fishes’ grounds during the two day art weekend, transforming the pub’s garden into an outdoor gallery filled with unique pieces of modern and contemporary art.

It’s a free-to-attend event so soak up the festival atmosphere whilst you enjoy a cool drink and maybe a bite to eat from The Fishes’ new summer BBQ menus.

Budding artists of all ages can also get creative on the day and take part in a summer art challenge to raise money for charity. Make a £1 donation to the Peach foundation, which raises money to support community and conservancy projects both in Oxfordshire and overseas www.peachfoundation.co.uk and paint your work of art in miniature on a small canvas.

If you catch the judges’ eye, you could win a bottle of bubbly, a voucher to spend on food and drink at The Fishes and a trophy.

The Summer Oxford Art Fair takes place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 8th August and Sunday 9th August 2015 at The Fishes in North Hinksey and is free to enter. For more information please go to www.theoxfordartfair.com The Fishes is at North Hinksey Village, Oxford, OX2 0NA. Tel: 01865 249796 www.fishesoxford.co.uk

Are you Thame’s best baker? Oxfordshire’s cake king or queen? The Big Thame Bake (part of the Thame Food Festival) is now calling for entries, and they want YOU to rise to the occasion for local good causes.

Whatever your baking skill or age, there’s a category to charge your imagination. There are prizes to be won plus the chance to meet some of the biggest names in the world of baking, including Great British Bake Off’s Frances Quinn, Louis Troyano, Miranda Gore-Brown and patisserie legend Benoit Blin from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons to name a few.

Local businesses, Thame Food Festival want you to take part too – from pubs to estate agents – they want to see just how competitive you really are.

And if that wasn’t enough, Thame Belles WI will be transforming the Town Hall into The Town Hall Tea Room from 1.30pm, open for tea, cake and a quick rest from the hustle of the fabulous Thame Food Festival. They will be selling the cakes from the bake off, so if you’re more of an eater than a baker you can still play your part!

See the website for details: www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk

Food spectacles Ivan R Cammack optometrists have recently joined the list of sponsors for the Chinnor Food Festival and the Thame Food Festival.

A lovely garden to turn to TURN END, one of three award-winning village houses designed and built in the 1960s by architect Peter Aldington, will open to visitors on Sunday 28th June 2015 from 14.00-17.30. Hosted by Turn End Charitable Trust and rarely open to visit, architect fans and gardening enthusiasts will be able to meet Peter and Margaret Aldington and find out how the house and gardens were designed and developed over the years. Entry is £15.00

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And the winner is ...

An excited gathering of artists filled the gallery at Oxford Town Hall for the awards presentation to the finalists and winners of Thame based online art gallery, Poseytude Gallery’s, inaugural “Change the World” 2015 art competition. Oxfordshire based artists competed in the Oxfordshire category and UK-wide and international artists competed in the Open category. Additionally, there was an overall Grand Prix winning position at stake. After 4 weeks of online voting via Facebook and the Poseytude Gallery website with over 3,600 views, 8 finalists were selected in each category by the number of votes received.

An excited crowd listened, as it was simultaneously broadcast live onto the Internet, as the following winning artworks and artists were announced and presented their awards by Mayor of Thame, Jeanette Matelot Green: Oxfordshire Category: First place – “Out of sight, out of mind” by Sarah Mook; Second place – “Gaia” by Michael Gabriel; Third place – “Resurgence – Kingfisher” by Erica Coulehan Open Category: First place – “String Theory” by Sarah Hull; Second place – “Gulu 1” by Frank Newhofer; Third place – “The Apple Tree”

by Zuzanna Król info@poseytude.com.

Local author

b COMPETITION Win a FREE SIGNED

copy of Neil’s book.

See page 66.

Thame based author Neil Hayes, is offering Thame Out readers the chace to win his book A View From A Lake: Buddha, Mind and Future. The book is a practical and approachable explanation of the mind teachings of the Buddha, in the context of what psychologists know about the human mind today. With a contemporary twist, it will appeal to those new to mindfulness and psychology, as well as to more serious students of mind, meditation and the Buddha’s teaching.

Neil writes clearly and confidently, and explains complex matters in a pragmatic and often humorous way.

HEALTH & BEAUTY *

A feast for the eyes O

ur eyes, like the rest of us, tend to wear out the older we get.

One of the conditions that affects eyes that have seen quite a lot of the world is macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration is believed to affect 25 per cent of people aged over 70 and as many as 50 per cent of people over 80. The macula is found at the back of the eye at the centre of the retina and is responsible for our central vision (key to reading, driving and recognising faces).

“The early symptoms are a blurred central vision and a bending of straight lines – slightly twisted doorframes would be an example,” explains Ivan Cammack in whose Thame optometrist consultancy I am sitting. “There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. The dry version is by far the most common and isn’t usually as severe. It happens when the retina lacks certain nutrients which protect the delicate photoreceptors from the harmful effects of parts of the light spectrum. Over time the light sensitive cells in the retina are damaged and central vision fades, although this may not occur in both eyes. The wet version, which only occurs when the dry version is already present, leads to a more rapid failure of sight and is caused by leaking of blood vessels under the macular.”

Medical treatment for macular degeneration is only effective as damage limitation in the more severe ‘wet’ version. Far better to reduce the risk of onset and progression by protecting your retina by eating the right stuff. A healthy diet rich in dark leafy green vegetables and dark skinned fruits is believed to provide the most effective protection.

That and protecting your eyes from too much direct exposure to sunlight (tinted sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat will help on sunny days); cutting down fatty red meat; and taking a reasonable amount of physical exercise,

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“A switch to a good green diet with oily fish, nuts and fruit can be a huge help,” says Ivan. “Dark green, leafy veggies in particular – kale, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, green beans and cabbage – contain nutrients called lutein and zeaxanthin that are key in protecting the health of the macular.

However, our bodies become less efficient at processing these nutrients as we get older, and getting the nutritional levels through diet alone is extremely difficult and usually not enough from preventing the condition worsening. For that, you also need vitamin supplements to hit the levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omega-3 that are necessary to provide your eyes with the support they need.”

And it is here that a tried and tested product provides an answer.

“Nutrof Total is a complete nutritional supplement for eye health,” continues Ivan. “It has been formulated to provide all the correct vitamins and minerals

As we age, so do our eyes.

So it is important to take precautionary measures to combat the problems that the years may bring as Andrew Cohen discovers on a visit to Ivan Cammack, the Thame optometrist. It turns out that one of those precautions is our diet and the vitamin supplements we take.

needed to prolong the vitality and wellbeing of our eyes.” As well as antioxidant vitamins C and E, macular pigments such as lutein and zeazanthin, zinc, copper and selenium, Nutrof Total also contains omega-3 fish oils. “That means an all-in-one, easy-to-swallow capsule, one that will make sure your eyes have the correct nourishment to maintain their health,” says Ivan. “With Nutrof Total, you don’t have to buy any extra supplements to make sure your eyes are receiving just the right amount of nutrients.”

Ivan went on to mention another supplement called Hyabak Caps which are specifically designed for Dry Eye.

“We run specialist clinics for patients with Dry Eye, a condition which leads to inflammation of the ocular surface and the eyelids. Generally speaking the western diet is highly deficient in fish oils. Hyabak Caps offer the optimal balance of Omega 3 and 6 as well as essential anti-oxidants and minerals, clinically proven to help dry eye symptoms within a month, depending on the patient’s current nutritional status.

Ivan is keen to impress upon me a wider point. “Even if your eyes feel fine and your vision is in good shape,” he advises, “I really would recommend that everyone, young and old, make sure they go along to their opticians for

regular eye tests and inspections. It isn’t just a question of finding out whether your short- or long-sightedness has deteriorated enough to warrant new lenses. Our eyes are delicate biological instruments and demand all the care that we can give them. Frequent checkups allow optometrists the chance to detect any underlying problems. That way they can be diagnosed before they have the chance to do any long-lasting and real harm. Most people should have eye examinations at least once every two years. If you are over 70, I would make that once a year.”

Oh, and eat up your greens. And then get some supplements inside you too.

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

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HEALTH & BEAUTY *

Clients of Thame hair salon, Studio 86, explain what keeps drawing them back for styling after styling.

Y

ou can tell when a hair salon has made its mark. For its stylish cuts, for its subtle, elegant colourings, for its imaginative energies, for its ability to create looks that suit the texture of each comb of the hair and the shape of a face, for its friendliness, for its relaxed atmosphere, for its willingness to take each and every customer seriously.

Customers keep going back. And back.

And back again. They also pass on the message to their family and friends and neighbours. Who, in turn, keep going back and back again.

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A cut above

In the three years it has been open, Jamie Michelle Pfeifer’s Boutique Salon – Studio 86 – on Thame High Street, has really impressed with its creative skills and its service (complimentary head and hand massages are all included). Little wonder, then, that Jamie, the salon’s master stylist and technician, now has a devoted list of clients. Loyal and full of praise. As you can read here.

Jamie’s hours are not your usual Monday - Saturday, 9 - 5 Salon hours. She works around her clients requirements. Early starts, late finishes and long weekends are part of the job.

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

“Jamie and staff give me confidence” Rebecca W - Thame Client since 2013

“A beautiful salon, lovely cut, great colour, and calm atmosphere” Mirium C - Haddenham Client since 2007

“Glad I found you Jamie. Transformation great!! New woman goes forth” Heather B - Haddenham Client since 2014

“Always relaxing, fantastic haircut and colours. Never anything less.

A very happy regular” Clare M - Thame Client since 2013

“Best fresh trim EVER ... Don’t leave Thame!!”

Ben M - Watlington Client since 2012

“Lovely staff. Very welcoming. Really pleased with the services. Looks better everytime I come, my colour is fantastic”

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

Penny P - Little Milton Client since 2013

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

The benefits of

stre t c h i n g

S

tretching in its most basic form is an automatic action. We often stretch instinctively when we wake up and after periods of inactivity. However, whilst the benefits of regular exercise are well documented, the benefits of a regular stretching routine are far less known about, yet are nevertheless just as important.

Incorporating stretching into your daily workouts or into your regular day is just as important to health and body functioning as regular exercise, with many benefits: Increased flexibility Stretching is commonly used to help achieve greater range of movement (ROM) through a joint. In other words, to increase flexibility, which is an important component of fitness and injury prevention. As we get older, muscles can become tighter and ROM in the joints reduces. Poor flexibility can cause movement to become slower and less fluid, making us more susceptible to muscle strains or other soft tissue injuries which can hinder day-to-day activities and an active lifestyle. An increase in flexibility is accompanied by improved balance and coordination.

Improved posture Tense, tight muscles can contribute to poor posture. Stretching regularly helps to lengthen tight muscles that can pull areas of the body away from their correct position. Large muscles in the lower back, chest and shoulders should be regularly stretched to keep the spine in better alignment and improve overall posture. Yoga and many Pilates classes use stretching for this reason, as well as for the psychological benefits.

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For the mind When we’re subjected to a build-up of stress and anxiety, our muscles can become tense and contracted. This tension can have a widespread impact on us, both physically and mentally.

Like all types of exercise, stretching has powerful stress-busting abilities.

Spending around 10 to 15 minutes stretching each day can help calm the mind, providing a mental break and giving your body a chance to recharge.

Reducing the risk of injury There is much debate over whether stretching can help prevent injury or not. However, it has been proven to help increase blood flow to the muscles, which in turn provides a greater nutrient supply to muscles, thereby reducing muscle soreness and helping to speed recovery from muscle and joint injuries. The less sore your muscles are, the less painful it will be to work those same muscles and to exercise in general.

To get the most out of a stretch routine, keep in mind the following: Don’t bother with a pre-workout stretch!

Muscles should always be warm before being stretched. Either stretch after an easy five to 10 minute warm up or leave it till the end of your workout when you’re fully warm.

Stretch the muscles that need it most There’s little point in stretching your triceps and biceps off after a heavy leg workout. It sounds obvious, but focus on the muscles that feel the tightest and most fatigued before moving on to less problem areas.

Add movement into your stretching routine The gentle movements of tai chi, yoga and Pilates are a good way to stretch and bring some calm into your mind. In addition, if you are planning to work out in the gym, or play football, or go for a run, it’s a good idea to warm up by doing the movement slowly and at a very low intensity for a few minutes to prepare your muscles for what’s ahead. And if you’re not sure how to stretch properly, invest in some help from someone who does - as stretching is no exception to the rule that technique is the key to success.

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.

Thame 212048 l Chinnor 351564 l Wendover 625892 info@ivancammack.com

LIFESTYLE *

Make a positive

changetoday DROPiT21 is an online programme focusing on education and motivation around cleaneating, fitness and most important of all, well-being. Find out how this 21-day programme can help you live a healthier, fitter and happier life.

A

few months into 2015 and the New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside. The gym membership has been cancelled and the new gym kit has been pushed to the back of the drawer. The latest fad diet is long forgotten; it either failed or was not sustainable long-term, and the pounds crept back on again. Food has become either about comfort or convenience, but rarely about taste or nutrition. News stories abound that the UK is falling into an obesity epidemic crisis. You are sure there must be a better way to lead a healthier, fitter and happier life.

And thankfully there is. Qualified fitness instructor Sandra Brooks has added DROPiT21 to her class portfolio – a proven 21-day programme to lose weight and feel great. Launched back in November 2013, the core focus of the programme is around clean healthy eating and exercise. 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.”

If you sign up, what can you expect?

Equipped with a comprehensive manual packed with information on clean eating, clients are also provided with a recipe suggestion booklet for a whole variety of nutritious and tasty meals, also a suggested weekly meal planner if they would like more guidance. If you are following the programme via Facebook, rather than daily emails, then a friendly

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and secret Facebook group led by a member of the DROPiT21 team offers daily updates, advice, shared experiences and tons of support and motivation.

Clients are also sent a link to a daily 10-minute workout video, with a choice of High or Low Intensity depending on fitness levels.

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 sugarand 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.

Why 21 days? “Our taste buds regenerate every 10-21 days,” explains Sandra. “So if you cut out lots of sugars and processed ingredients from your diet, within 3 weeks the cravings will subside.”

But be warned, there can be some serious side effects. You will feel some, if not all of the below: • More energy • Better complexion • Better mood • Better sleep • Improved brain function • Significant weight / inch loss • Improved self-esteem.

A simple change to your diet could also curb or prevent certain lifethreatening conditions and diseases such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Hundreds of clients have successfully completed the programme since its inception and the average weight loss is

around 11lbs and 11 inches lost. Sandra also adds that the programme seems to have evolved since the beginning, “I am finding a larger number of people are signing on to the programme NOT necessarily for weight loss but for getting rid of sugar in their diet. People are becoming more aware of the effects of the amount of sugar and are looking for ways to kick their sugar addictions.”

It’s not just a programme for women either as men are signing up too. And many more men have lost weight and are leading healthier lives too by default, thanks to their wives who have completed the programme and are making the food shopping and cooking decisions!

Sandra concludes, “DROPiT21 offers the solution to make a lasting change on your lifestyle and general well-being.

It will change your views relating to food, you’ll beat your cravings and you’ll simply feel great”

How DROPiT21 helped me Annie’s story Annie signed up for Sandra’s DROPiT21 programme in September 2014, having put on weight during pregnancy, and by the end of March 2015 had lost an incredible 5 stone, going from a size 22 to a 12/14.

What makes Annie’s story so amazing is that she achieved the weight loss and healthier lifestyle all on the back of one DROPiT21 programme and once the three weeks had finished she took the knowledge and empowerment she’d gained, incorporated it into her lifestyle and continued her journey by herself.

Annie explains that she achieved the results she was aiming for, “without starving myself, or a personal trainer, no

Annie before ...

... and after

specialist low calorie or low fat food. Just healthy, clean food and fun exercise.”

“I think it’s important for people to know that they can do this on their own when the 21 days are over, with willpower, self-motivation and determination. I bought my first size 12 top for over 13 years the other day. I was a size 12 for about 4 months following some mad diet then went back up the scales. This absolutely WILL NOT happen again!!”

Annie just completed the 2015 London Marathon in April and “loved it!”

Leanne’s story “I was a baton twirler from the age of 4 until 18 – full of confidence, performing in front of thousands of people and even competing for England at the 2000 World Championships. I never really had trouble with my weight before I fell pregnant, but this coincided with my husband’s job being relocated, a big

Michele before ...

I started trying new foods, things that I would have totally avoided before.

I experimented with cooking clean, healthy and nutritious meals from scratch, not just for me but for my family too.

The compliments started to flow and they still do now 18 months later.

I am now a size 12, something I used to dream of. I follow the Maintenance Plan and have lots of people asking me how I have kept the weight off. I have managed to build DROPit21 plan into a lifestyle that works for my family and me and I enjoy supporting other people in their new quest for a healthy lifestyle too.”

Leanne before ...

... and after

house move, and feeling quite lonely and isolated in a new part of the country. I put on a whopping 4 stone during my first pregnancy. I thought about losing weight but realistically I was exhausted and there was never any “me” time, and no family nearby to help out. I was a size 18 and tried to live with it.

By 2013, I knew I had to do something about my weight. I started jogging and going to various exercise classes including Sandra’s Zumba class.

Sandra told me about a new programme (DROPiT21) that she wanted to trial and I signed up.

In those first few weeks the weight started to drop off, I felt fitter and could physically see the difference.

Michele’s story “After a number of post-baby years of piling on the pounds, I felt miserable, bloated and wobbly, not to mention unfit and struggling to keep up with my then 4 and 3-year-old children. Having been very active and sporty pre-children, I just didn’t feel like me. So in January 2014 I signed up to Sandra’s DROPiT21 programme.

With a mix of bad habits and the stress of trying to balance a hectic job with being a mum, I hadn’t been eating healthily and exercise was something I tried to squeeze in when I could. With DROPiT 21’s 10-minute daily workout it was easy to fit exercise into my busy day. At the end of the three weeks I

... and after

was amazed that I’d lost almost a stone.

My skin was clearer, I had more energy, and I was fitter and stronger. I started to notice muscle definition where there was previously wobble, and my stomach started to see the outlines of some abs instead of post-baby flubber! And most importantly I didn’t feel deprived at meal times as I was eating such a variety of good clean nutritious foods instead of empty carbs.

By May 2014, I had lost 30lbs. The migraines that I’d suffered with for years were less severe, and I was sleeping better.

Having a great love of food and cooking I was experimenting and creating numerous healthy and nutritious meals for the family and me. Food just seemed to taste so much better.

It’s now a year since I lost the weight and more importantly the weight has stayed off. It goes to show that the DROPiT21 programme really works and is totally sustainable.”

So are you ready for that Positive Change?

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

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GALLANT LUXURY MENSWEAR

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“Clothes make the man�

Mark Twain

The difference is in the detail Brands include: 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 l 01844 218 400 l www.gallant-thame.co.uk l twitter: @Gallant_Thame

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LIFESTYLE *

A garden

Alice’s Pig Dress. £55

Alice’s Pig Jumpsuit. £55

White vintage chair. £110

Apple Box Bench Seat with Hare fabric. £245 Emily & Finn Dress. £64 Cushions from £28

Wooden Crates. £23

Summer time and the living is easy at White Hart Studio.

S

ummer is upon us. With its soft, warming breezes. With its long, languid evenings. With its sun-kissed bounty. Whether it’s a matter of dressing yourself with gorgeous flowing 50’s retro dresses, from Alice’s Pig (a new designer for the White Hart Studio), or a cool

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cotton dress from Emily & Finn with their unique pattern designs, or striking jumpsuits – or your garden – chairs, rustic bench seats, glowing night lamps – you really should pay a visit to the White Hart Studio in Haddenham. It’s where summer comes to vibrant life.

of delights

Emily & Finn Dress. £55

Vintage Cambridge Rowing Regatta seats. £235 (for 3)

Fold Up Garden Chair.

From £65

Morrocan Garden T Lights. £6

Blue Garden Chair. £65

‘Made in Provance’ Baskets. From £24

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 *

Time for

wanderlust Feeling a sense of adventure this summer? Then a must companion is a watch from the Dive and Solar ranges by Seiko, says Yvette Nix of Thame’s Kismet Jewellers

W

hether you are an experienced diver, a recreational diver, or just planning on spending most of your summer holiday in the water, then nothing quite suits the splash zones of swimming pools and beaches like a Seiko Dive watch.

With half a century of history and a proud record of innovation, Seiko’s diver’s watches have often been chosen by adventurers who have faced the challenges of the world’s most harsh environments.

Seiko made Japan’s first divers watch in 1965. It offered 150m water resistance, a rotating bezel with a special gasket and a high-legibility dial. It was the beginning of a 50-year tradition at Seiko, creating watches that are perfect for diving or swimming in all conditions.

It all started with a letter from a professional diver in Hiroshima. He explained that there wasn’t a watch robust enough to withstand the stresses and strains he experienced when using a diving capsule and saturation diving techniques in depths greater than

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300m. The letter was seen by Seiko’s engineers as a challenge. They set to work and, in 1975, created the world’s first titanium cased diver’s watch. It was called the professional Divers 600m. It had enhanced water resistance and gas tightness, a more legible dial, wider hands and a strong, two-layer construction for greater shock resistance.

In the years that followed, Seiko invented a number of technologies that raised the level of security in divers’ watches. In fact, the international standard for divers’ watches – ISO6425 – was developed using Seiko’s own standard as its base.

In their quest for constant progress Seiko co-operated with organisations in Japan, USA and elsewhere that could assist with testing its watches in extreme conditions. Back in May 1983, two Professional Divers 600m watches were fixed to the exterior hull of the OSHINKAI 2000, a Japanese manned research submersible. The watches were originally intended to withstand depths of 600m; on this occasion, however, they

coped perfectly with the water pressure at an astonishing 1062m.

For saturation divers watches, helium is a constant issue. The gas penetrates the watch gasket and, in some cases, the difference in external and internal gas pressure can cause the glass to break.

While other companies looked to solve this by releasing helium through an escaped valve, Seiko took a different direction and addressed the problem at its source. For the Professional Divers 600m, they developed a case structure that is effectively impermeable to helium gas. In tests, the watches proved to be up to ten times more impermeable to helium than their competitors.

And so we come to the present day.

The Prospex range – Seiko’s latest choice of divers’ watches – includes the Kinetic,

which is powered by the movement of the wearer’s body by storing electricity in a self-charging battery. And the Solar, which is powered by any light source and so needs no battery replacement whatsoever – how convenient is that if you’re holidaying in the UK. Not just beautiful watches but environmentfriendly watches too. Enveloped in sleek, modern cases adorned with polished titanium, pretty Swarovski crystals, or classic leather straps there is every excuse to let the light shine this summer.

What’s more, Seiko divers’ watches also represent incredible value for money – 200m watches start from just £229. At the higher end two new Marinemaster models were launched in April 2015 – the Marinemaster Professional 1000m Divers and the

Marinemaster Professional 1000m HiBeat 36000 Limited Edition. The strap is made of extra strength silicone for greater durability and incorporates Seiko’s ‘Accordion strap’ which expands and contracts to compensate for the diver’s wrists as they constrict at greater depths.

Seiko’s divers’ watches really are the world’s underwater benchmark. So whether you are leaping into an azure sea or simply diving into a shimmering pool this summer, wear a Seiko. It’s a watch that will enjoy the water as much as you do.

Kismet Jewellers: 01844 261166 yvette.nix@outlook.com Follow us on Facebook

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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

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Summer has arrived 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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Gems from

Thame Jewellery Workshop

Ladies 18ct white gold diamond ring

Ladies 18ct yellow gold ring set with rubies and diamonds

Ladies 18ct white gold ring set with central diamond and diamonds on the shoulder

Ladies 18ct white gold ring set with aquamarine and diamonds

Goldsmith Onsite Jewellery for Women Jewellery for Men Repairs Ladies 18ct white gold five stone ring set with diamonds

Gentlemans Vera Wood date army watch

Gentlemans hand made silver bangle

Gentlemans silver Crocodile pendant Gentlemans chocolate rosewood watch

Gentlemans hand made pendant by Julie Brandon

Hand Crafted Unique Designs Exclusive Beautiful Organic

Gentlemans ruby and silver band rings. Hand made in our workshop

Gentlemans silver ring set with saphire. Hand made in our workshop

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

HOME & GARDEN *

Bench storage

The Larder

Wine rack and white Siemens American style fridge

Perhaps it’s the cost of moving house or staying close to an excellent school or simply not wanting to leave this fantastic part of the world. Whatever the reason, Fay Branch at Kingsey Kitchens has noticed an upsurge in home extensions.

Sarah Denmark reports.

Adding value

K

ingsey Kitchens are busy. Very busy. With six kitchen jobs on the go, Fay shows me just two superbly designed and built kitchen diners. A farm house in Kingsey and an extended house in Thame.

The first kitchen we visit is in East Street in Thame. A house that has been cleverly extended and now boasts a beautiful cooking and eating environment. The work started 18 months ago. Kingsey prefer to get involved from the start as this makes for a smoother project. The East Street kitchen work is a case in point. Kingsey provided accurate drawings and plans for the builders to work from. “It certainly makes the builders’ job easier if they have drawings to work from right

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from the start,” says Fay. “It’s great to be involved in a job and see it through to its conclusion.”

There are some great space saving features with this sleek looking design.

Pull out drawers, for example, to give easy access to pots and pans. “They can carry a great weight, yet simply glide easily out from the cupboard,” says Fay. “We utilised every inch of space in this bespoke kitchen. A wine rack that runs virtually from floor to ceiling fits snuggly between the fridge and end wall, while the beautiful old style larder is hugely useful and attractive.” I notice a neat bespoke bench seat fixed to the end

The utility room

Pull out storage

The East St Kitchen

The Farmhouse kitchen

Island storage Glass fronted cabinet

wall. This too, I discover, is a clever bit of storage. There is a super little utility room hidden behind a door.

“The colours we used in this design were very important to the client,” adds Fay. Farrow and Ball “Matchstick”for the wall cupboards and “Pigeon for the island cupboards. With an impressive glass splashback that runs the length of one wall was manufactured in “Pigeon” to match. The light that reflects off the glass makes the kitchen seem even bigger. The Kitchen also features a beautiful white glass fronted Siemens American style freezer.

The kitchen (built from scratch by Kingsey in their workshop) makes truly stylish expansive use of the extended room.

Kitchen number two is in Kingsey village and is a farmhouse. A dividing wall has been removed to create a huge kitchen/diner. In it floats the biggest selfcontained island I have ever seen and certainly the biggest island that Kingsey have designed and built. The owners often have their large family around for Sunday lunch, and they can seat 16 people should they wish.

The island, made of solid oak, has huge volumes of storage space and had been designed to match perfectly the contours and flow and the features of the rest of the kitchen. These include a superb walk-in larder, enclosed cupboards and a glass fronted display cabinet. Big practical, stylish items for a big room.

If you are thinking of a home extension and would like a kitchen to be at its centre, then give Kingsey Kitchens 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

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HOME & GARDEN * Charlotte Collins drops in on Ridgeway Kitchens to discover more about the latest trends in kitchen design and to find out why their services are in such high demand.

T

he Ridgeway Kitchens showroom is based on Rycote Lane near Milton Common, Oxfordshire. The company was set up in 2010 and the business has been growing ever since.

How to cook up a wonderful One of the main reasons for the company’s success is the wonderful array of kitchens they have on offer. From intricately crafted, bespoke in-frame shakers to incredibly sleek, modern designs, Ridgeway really does supply a kitchen style for all tastes. Their huge showroom boasts a wealth of kitchen doors in a range of materials and finishes including high gloss, glass-faced, ultramatt, textured laminates and solid timber. The worktops on display are also extremely varied and encompass robust, high-end laminates, real wood, Corian™, Silestone™ and real Marble and Granite.

The details are also incredibly important to the company and they have spent a long time selecting products that are not only practical and superbly engineered, but also lovely to look at.

Back-lit glass shelves that seem to be floating in air, smooth and spacious storage solutions in a variety of finishes and clever drawer inserts are all on display in their showroom. Every detail seems to reflect the high-quality and robust engineering Ridgeway have become renowned for.

“First and foremost comes the excellence of our kitchens,” agrees

kitchen Wayne, Ridgeway’s Manager. “They are beautifully designed and superbly finished. There are all styles of kitchen here, from contemporary to traditional.

As well as fantastically engineered kitchens from Germany, we also have a great range of British-made bespoke kitchens that combine brilliant craftsmanship with all the latest storage solutions and gadgets.”

But, just as important, is the service that Ridgeway offers its customers. “We don’t just supply kitchens,” explains Wayne. “Our job, as we see it, is to help you design a new kitchen from start to finish. We spend time with our clients, talking through their ideas and requirements so we can propose a unique kitchen design for them, making sure it maximises the use of the space they have available and reflects their personal style. We create a digital 3D walk-through

simulation of the proposed kitchen, meaning the client has an amazing insight into how the kitchen will look. They can change door colours, worktops, lighting options and so on until they are completely happy with the visual.”

All very well deciding on your dream kitchen, but what of the way it is installed? Not an issue with Ridgeway.

“The installation is all part of the package,” says Wayne. “We employ a trusted team of fitters with years of experience behind them. We can project-manage the whole job and supply our local builders, plasterers, electricians, plumbers, tillers, carpenters and decorators where needed.

Every Ridgeway kitchen is installed to the very highest of standards and each client works closely with their project manager, who will explain details and timings, and ensure a smooth and efficient operation.”

The increasing trend in open-plan living lends itself favourably to Ridgeway’s range of furniture. “We have a wide range of home furniture here which can be used in dining and sitting areas to blend seamlessly with the kitchen design. The flow of colours, textures and styles from one area to the next ensures continuity in the space and brings the different living zones together.”

But won’t a wonderfully engineered, dream kitchen take an enormous bite out of a bank account? “Not at all,” Wayne reassures me. “There are kitchens here for everyone, for every type of home and for every level of budget. Our prices are extremely competitive because we don’t have all the overheads of a High Street supplier. Our kitchens represent incredible value for money and we’re proud to be selling them.”

< The kitchen before and during its transformation

A kitchen transformed

The finished kitchen

“

I know it sounds a bit weird but my kitchen makes me happy when I walk into it.

”

When Tracey and Richard moved into their home 14 years ago it was a new build, with the kitchen already laid out. “In time, our vision was to have one big communal space,” says Tracey.

“So we decided the time had come for a completely new kitchen.

We wanted to use a local company and found Ridgeway.

The main reason we went with Ridgeway is that they offered a ‘one-stop-shop’. Our plasterer, electrician, builder, plumber and floor tiler were all used to working together. If there were any problems they were sorted out there and then. Even better they tidied up at the end of each day and never got in the way. “The thing with our kitchen space was that there wasn’t a lot scope. But Ridgeway made the most of every single inch. The new kitchen

covers almost the same footprint as the old one but it feels twice the size. It’s brighter, lighter and it works so much better. It was Ridgeway’s idea to add the return and to take down the divide between the two rooms. Both have made such a difference.”

“We really enjoyed working with Ridgeway. They were so obliging.

Nothing was too much trouble.

And they always kept us in the loop which was really comforting.

Everything came in on budget and there were no hidden extras or surprises. I know it sounds a bit weird but my new kitchen makes me happy. I feel genuinely happy when I walk into it.”

Contact one of the team to make an appointment 01844 279900 info@ridgewaykitchens.co.uk

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HOME & GARDEN *

Haddenham’s

secret garden

If you haven’t yet discovered Turn End in Haddenham, you will be in for a treat this summer says Emily Hurst.

ucked away in the heart of Haddenham are three village houses. But not just any three village houses. They were conceived and built by architect Peter Aldington in the 1960s.

Constructed of wood, concrete block and glass, the three have long been celebrated as a model British representative of the very finest of European house design.

Visitors have arrived from all over the world to marvel at the subtle, innovative balance of modernity and tradition. As a mark of the imaginative architectural reach of the houses, they were listed as Grade II buildings in 2006, one of only a handful of post-war designs to be accorded such recognition.

But as remarkable as the houses is the garden that embraces them, also designed by Peter Aldington as a natural open space that would reflect the sweep and contours of the buildings. The garden unfolds as a series of connected ‘rooms’ – sunken or raised, sunny or shady, geometric or informal, a courtyard with a pool, a woodland area dotted with 100-year old apple trees – yet each in perfect harmony with the buildings and the landscape. Decorating them a vibrant, colourful collection of plants.

The garden’s character changes with the passing seasons. Summer, for example, brings joyous herbaceous borders, glorious shrubs and sinuous climbers.

To preserve its splendour for the future, the Turn End Charitable Trust was set up in 1998. The aim was not only conservation but also greater public access so that more and more people could see the gardens. As part of its ambition to encourage and to nurture creativity in the community, the Trust recently launched an annual programme of gardening and art workshops.

This year’s schedule includes a House and Garden Open Day on Sunday 28th June. Rarely open to the public, visitors will be able to visit Turn End house, meet Peter and Margaret

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Aldington and discover first hand how they designed and developed the house and gardens over the years. As you walk and explore the gardens at your leisure, Turn End’s gardener, Jackie Hunt, will be on hand to explain the various planting styles of each of the enchanting areas.

And some of Turn End’s home-grown plants will be on sale should you wish to conjure a little extra magic in your own garden. The entry fee is £15. To book, just email turnendtrustevents@gmail.com Then in August, Turn End will be staging a garden sculpture exhibition.

Within the tranquillity of the gardens, you can view an enthralling array of traditional and contemporary

Photography by Paul Wilkinson

T

artworks created by local, national and international artists. Lendon Scantlebury, a renowned museum curator and archaeologist, will be overseeing the exhibition and will talk visitors through the ways in which sculptures, in stone, in glass, in wood, in steel, from traditional statuary to pieces that take their cue from plants and animals alike, can embellish any size of garden whatever your budget. Sculpture in the Garden will be open between 8th August and 16th August from 11am to 6pm. Entry is free, and all the sculpture will be available for sale.

Turn End is truly imaginative and evocative. So why not pop along and return home inspired by a wonderful secret garden?

Paul Wilkinson Photography sponsors the Turn End Events Programme

Diary of Events Other events on the timetable include: Seasonal Walks & Talks £10 each walk. Max 10 people Talking Beds: The Dry Garden Wednesday 1st July 2015: 16.00 – 17.00 Autumn Walk Sunday 20th Setpember 2015: 11.00 – 12.00 Arts & Crafts Workshops £50 each workshop (£10 non-refundable deposit).

Max 5 people.

Checkerboard Spine Album with Heather Hunter Thursday 24th September 2015: 10:00 - 16:00 Sunday 27th September 2015: 10:00 - 16:00 Pages and Covers with Jean Mould Hart Friday 25th September 2015: 10:00 - 16:00 Saturday 26th September 2015: 10:00 - 16:00 Gardening Workshops £50 (£10 non-refundable deposit). Max 10.

Summertime Gardening Workshop Propagate your own plants Thursday 20th August 2015: 10.00 - 16.00 For further information please contact the Events Office l turnendtrustevents@gmail.com l 07591 018601

LIFESYLE *

Talking

Gavin MacMahon interviews Paul Wilkinson, award-winning Haddenham photographer.

pictures

Q. I know you have picked up a whole cabinet-full of awards over the years – Bridal Image of the Year, Lifestyle Portrait Photographer of the Year among many others – but when did you first set out as a portrait photographer?

A. Photography has always been a passion of mine. So I was really pleased when I got my first wedding commission at Le Manoir. That was ten years ago.

And I’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Le Manoir ever since. My wife and business partner – Sarah – and I are very proud of the awards but that’s not the real reason we do what we do. It’s the pleasure of all those captured memories that our work offers our clients.

Weddings, anniversaries, birthday celebrations, family get togethers, off to school or university shots, parents with new babies, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, all beautifully preserved for a lifetime.

I chose portraiture because it fills the lens with everything important on a human scale. It’s about being human.

Q. You have a book coming out soon I believe?

A. I’m a great believer in sharing knowledge. Of course, natural talent plays a part in good photography – having a sense of composition, picking up on the nuances of light, reading the mood of an event, that sort of thing – but there’s a whole lot you can learn too.

The book, which I’ve put together in collaboration with fellow photographer, Sarah Plater, is called ‘Mastering Portrait Photography’ and it provides everyone with the opportunity to take wonderful, illuminating images of people. There are the practical techniques but also tips on how to develop a more instinctive, creative approach to capturing portrait photographs.

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Q. You seem very much at home in your studio in Turn End. A. We moved here four years ago, and it’s a fabulous place for portraiture. It has such unique character, it’s a creative’s dream location! A fully rigged indoor studio like this gives us the chance not only to set up imaginative, inventive personal and family portraits, but the wealth of wall space means we can also show how the photographs can be displayed as a gallery, in different styles of frames or clusters. But the indoor studio is only half the story. Step outside, at the back, and you find yourself in a worldfamous gorgeously picturesque garden.

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful backdrop for portraits literally on our doorstep..

Q. So it’s just you and Sarah?

A. It has been for most of my career, but because our business has been growing, we’ve been in a position to take on Michelle who looks after our customers from their first enquiry to choosing frames for their walls. And also Megan, a hugely talented young photographer and retoucher.

Q. You have just been appointed to a rather important role.

A. I’m now Chair of the Master Photographers Association, which is a real privilege. But I love the work too. It gives me the chance to promote other photographers and photography in general. I realise that technology has transformed how we take and see photographs – smart phones are pretty much everywhere now. But that doesn’t mean we have all been transformed into photographers. I just want to drive up creative excellence across the whole industry so people can see just what a difference a professional photographer can make to a special event that you want to commemorate.

for them should be fun and enjoyable; a chance to smile and laugh. So I will spend a good chunk of time just chatting with my clients – not a camera in sight. And, you know, if someone, say a child isn’t ready for the shoot, then we’ll postpone things and arrange it for another day. portrait session is its own miniature narrative, an accumulation of postures, glances, gestures, asides and smiles as well as set pieces, and it’s my task to record them in an imaginative way so that the shoot, frame by frame, can tell a delightful, memorable story about the people on the other side of the camera.

That’s what truly excites me about portrait photography – that capturing of a series of special moments.

Q. Can you tell what have been the secrets of your career?

A. Obviously, you do need an awareness of composition, colour and setting. But the most important thing in giving the pulse of life to a portrait is to frame and arrange the shot in such a way that it sits with the individual personalities of the people you are photographing. Every

Q. How do you plan a shoot?

A. Whether it’s on location or in the studio, we plan everything down to the very last detail. But you also have to have an intuitive quality, too, a sensitivity to the look of a face, to the interaction between sitter and lens, to the angles at which people hold themselves. And to appreciate the mood of the moment as well. We always do our utmost to help our sitters feel relaxed. The whole thing

Q. You like your job don’t you?

A. I love it. I’m so lucky. And I never love it more than when I see the pleasure on the faces of our clients as they pore over the photographs we have taken of them.

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

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What goes on in the mind of a dog?

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Love your home Clutter, children moving out, divorce, bereavement? There are lots of reasons why we fall out of love with our home.

Help is at hand. Kezia Luckett is The House Whisperer.

Her holistic approach is a nurturing process which enables her to re-energise your home, clear negative energy and physical clutter to create a home that resonates with you and your wellbeing, restoring the delicate balance involved with the day to day juggling of life. www.kezialuckett.com kezia@kezialuckett.com 07810 517739

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TRAVEL *

Love is in the air A wedding blessing or honeymoon.

Held in paradise. What better way to celebrate the start of a journey through life together? Well, Spear Travels can make that dream come true.

I

t’s a special time in your life.

Imagine it, then, in the tropics, surrounded by horizon-to-horizon blue skies, powder beaches, palm trees swaying in the breeze, the sound of azure waves lapping in the distance, all awash in sunlit weather that would make every photograph beautifully luminous.

One way of transforming dream into reality is to pay a visit to Spear Travels in Thame. Spear Travels are experts in putting together romantic getaways for weddings, honeymoons, blessings or renewal of vows, holidays that will carry enough memories to last a lifetime of marital bliss.

Dubai Dubai is a gem of ‘east-meets-west’ culture. All-year round sunshine, the warm inviting waters of the Arabian Gulf, exotic souks and ancient Bedouin villages, desert safaris, camel rides, fantastic beaches, fabulous shopping malls, vibrant nightlife, superb restaurants and outstanding hotels.

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One of which is the 5-star Jumeirah Creekside Hotel. Set amongst lushly verdant grounds, the hotel seamlessly marries the grace of a distinguished country club with all the modern luxuries of a modern city hotel. Close at hand is the Creek, the heart of old Dubai, where dhows berth and the abras (water taxis) connect both banks of the river: one bank is home to the world-renowned gold and spice souks; while the other offers the silk souk, Dubai Museum, the Bastakia district and eclectic mix of shopping in Karma.

Taxis are relatively cheap, and it’s only a short hop to downtown Dubai where you can find the world’s tallest building (Burj Kahifa), the world’s tallest dancing fountains and the world’s largest shopping mall (Dubai Mall).

Maldives The Maldives consist of a myriad of little islands, collected into 26 natural atolls.

The atolls and their islands straddle the equator as if they were a pearl and emerald garland of gems haphazardly

cast across the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, illuminated each evening by a fiery orange, red and purple sunset.

Each resort is laced by a shallow yet brilliant blue lagoon and a rainbowcoloured coral reef. The islands are blessed with almost deserted beaches of talcum-soft sand, sheltered by rims of swaying palm trees. Below the ocean is an amazing kaleidoscope of over 900 species of exotic fish, sharing the waters with turtles, sharks, rays, whales and dolphins.

If you are looking for the ultimate in exclusive island romantic getaways for wedding blessings or renewal of vows, then you might care to give the Kuredu Island resort a glance or two. From the minute you step off your connecting seaplane, there awaits a truly Maldivian welcome. While the overwater or beachfront villas have a rustic, yet chic style, the facilities and service are of the highest international standards. Among the many, many distractions – including spas, windsurfing, canoeing and top restaurant cuisine – are some of the best diving sites in the world.

Burj Khalifa

A VERY SPECIAL OFFER Visit Dubai and The Maldives Both modern and vibrant in the heart of cosmopolitan Dubai, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel offers the perfect contrast to the chic, tropical oasis of Kuredu Island Resort in the Maldives.

Spear Travels offer, from ÂŁ1,939pp, includes: l Return flights with Emirates from London Gatwick

Kuredu Island Resort Pool

l 7 nights All Inclusive Plus in a Beach Bungalow at Kuredu Island Resort. Wedding blessings or renewals of vows can be arranged at an additional charge.

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l 3 nights in a Superior Room at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel with breakfast daily l Private transfers and airport taxes This offer is valid for stays from 31 August to 30 September 2015 and must be booked by 30 June 2015.

Do you take this romantic destination to be your wedding or honeymoon destination.

I do. I do.

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

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Guide price ÂŁ550.000

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EDUCATION *

Boarding or day?

Or both?

By Alison Jones, Headmistress at Rye St Antony school.

F

or some families the decision is simple. The family home is at too great a distance from the school for daily travel, or family circumstances make day schooling impractical, so that boarding is the only feasible option. Being a day pupil is the obvious choice for others when family circumstances and preferences dovetail conveniently with local schooling.

For other families, however, the decision is less clear-cut. Either option is possible. Day schooling is attractive because it enables the closer maintenance of links with family and the local community. Boarding attracts because it gives the option for a broader and richer school experience and the fuller development of the team skills and the interpersonal skills which for most people will be the key to success in adult life.

It is no surprise then that an increasingly popularly option is flexiboarding, pupils boarding regularly or occasionally on some but not all

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weekdays, or boarding at certain stages, perhaps for a few weeks or a single term, perhaps for longer, for example for their GCSE and/or sixth form years.

Distinctive to boarding is the experience of living in a bigger and more diverse community than family life can provide. With size and diversity comes the opportunity to grow in self-knowledge and understanding and tolerance of others. The working environment for today’s pupils will require strong team skills and the ability to recognise and respond to the strength and weaknesses of others. The sooner such learning begins, the more secure it is likely to prove. Boarding gives space to test a young person’s developing independence and the understanding of how to interact positively rather than negatively with others.

Certainly boarding at Rye, whether for its full boarders or its flexi-boarders, meets with warm approval. In the words of the most recent boarding inspection report, ‘the boarding team is energetic, enthusiastic and, importantly, they

like children. Boarders describe the system as “great” and say staff are “very supportive”’. The enthusiastic praise of pupils, their parents and the reporting inspector led to inspection judgements as follows: Helping children be healthy: Outstanding Protecting children from harm and neglect and helping them stay safe: Outstanding Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do: Outstanding Helping children make a positive contribution: Outstanding Organisation: Outstanding Overall quality rating: Outstanding Rye St Antony School Pullen’s Lane Oxford OX3 0BY +44 (0)1865 762802 www.ryestantony.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK *

Sponsored by

Julian Foster discovers more about a wine club with a real difference.

J

erome Harlington came up with the idea behind Trailblazing Wine last year. The aim was to create a special wine service and app that would transform the tired and dusty ‘wine club’ offering that has been doing the rounds since the 1960s. Though the germ of the idea actually started six years ago when Jerome and his father, David, established Harlington Wine, a company dedicated to sourcing and supplying wines to Waitrose, Wells & Young’s, The Ledbury, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Texture, The Gilbert Scott and many more independent restaurants, caterers and delicatessens.

Their business was, and is, based on the principle of discovery: discovering new and emerging wine regions across the world; discovering new flavours and food-pairings; discovering a new way to find and buy real wines.

“Trailblazing Wine is simply an extension of that principle – for everyone,” explains Jerome. “The wines we supply are the best wines you have never heard of, and they help our customers explore the diversity of wine from off the beaten track.”

For the wine-afraid, or those starting to find the usual array of Bordeaux and clarets a little too predictable, Trailblazing Wine has come up with an answer. “Everyone has a unique palate - you could call it a taste profile – so we offer our Trailblazing Wine Club members a taste test to understand the flavours and wine styles they would naturally enjoy,” continues Jerome.

What happens, though, if someone buys a Trailblazing wine they don’t like?

“We’ve tried to remove the element of risk for our customers,” says Jerome.

“We offer a 100% guarantee on all our Club wines, which means if a customer

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The Wine Club that raises the bar chooses a wine that they later find isn’t really to their taste, we replace it or refund in full.”

So how does a wine make it on to the Trailblazing Wine Club list? “Of course, the wines we source have to be of good quality,” he says. “But it’s more than that. We know the producers well, we’ve sat with them around a table and shared a meal. We can guarantee the provenance and quality of the wine, and the production methods used. And we import direct from the vineyard – it’s an unmediated supply line.

“Our wines have to be made in an ecological and sustainable way. That means minimal manipulation, and no over-use of chemicals. Sustainability doesn’t stop at the vineyard, though; we follow it through to the shipping, the storage methods we use once the wine arrives in the UK, and distribution. And, just as importantly, we pay our producers a fair price. Because we deal directly with them, we don’t have agents chipping away at the margins. This means we can both pay the producers the right price and still pass on any savings directly to our members – that’s probably between 10% and 30% off the market norm retail prices.”

Browsing the Trailblazing Club wines, I’m prepared for unfamiliarity but it’s still a surprise to see so many new names there. Jerome takes up the story.

“We don’t shy aware from the classic areas, such as Burgundy or Bordeaux as we have found that there are so many undiscovered wines nestled there too. We also love to bring in wines from emerging regions. It’s all about finding unknown producers who haven’t exported before.”

Since wine is often best consumed with the complementary flavours of good food, the Trailblazing team helpfully supply food-pairing tips and style guides as well as webinars and wine taster kits that are an invaluable aid to choosing only the wines we’ll be sure to love.

I was itching to show Jerome a picture of a bottle that I’d discovered whilst on holiday in Portugal last year. I’d taken a picture on my phone but had struggled to find it anywhere when I got back to the UK. “You’ve just hit upon the second service we offer with our Trailblazing Wine Club and App,” said Jerome. “We noticed that a lot of people were taking pictures of bottles of wine were asking me to source the wine for them. So we have developed a search facility within the Trailblazing Wine App where you can take a photograph of an obscure bottle of wine anywhere in the world and we will source it for you and arrange for it to be delivered to your door.”

The Trailblazing Wine Club and App launched in May. Sip and enjoy. l To join the Trailblazing Wine Club and get the App, pre-launch offer, just get in touch with Jerome direct at jerome@trailblazingwine.com quoting Thame Out.

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

A GREAT BRITISH PUB WITH GREAT THAI CUISINE

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.

b It’s SUMMER. Celebrate Wednesday night with a Cocktail. b Tuesday is quiz night (cash prizes) b Food served until 10.30pm b Takeaways available b Lunchtime specials for people in a hurry 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 Find us on Facebook b It’s SUMMER. Enjoy eating and drinking al fresco

A BUCKET OF BEER

4 for £10 Choose from Budweiser, Peroni, Sol, Heineken, Corona or Smirnoff Ice

The Rising Sun, 26 High Street, Thame OX9 2BZ

01844 214206 www.risingsun-thame.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK *

House of Spice Thame

Party time!

House of Spice Thame

The House of Spice has long been serving Thame and Haddenham with delicious eastern dishes. Now, as Andrew Mitchell reports, the menu is even more mouth-wateringly enticing.

House of Spice Haddenham

House of Spice Haddenham

House of Spice Haddenham

From India to Lebanon, from Thame to Haddenham I

t was back in 1983 that House of Spice first opened its doors on Thame High Street. Since then it has been delighting palates with its gorgeous curries. Be it a take out or a table in the 80-cover restaurant.

Such was the success of Thame’s House of Spice, that another restaurant opened in Haddenham in 2000 and to equal acclaim from customers. The

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Sunday banquet has proven especially popular. (Rumours, though, that Haddenham’s House of Spice is closing are light years far wide of the mark – there will always be a House of Spice in Haddenham).

But, apart from the fabulously succulent, aromatic and award-winning Indian cuisine that both Houses of Spice prepare, there have been some changes.

House of Spice in Thame has conjured up a wondrously fragrant Lebanese lunchtime menu. Healthy, light but rich in flavour, it makes the perfect antidote to endlessly bland sandwiches.

Vine leaves filed with rice, tomato, parsley and mint; cubes of potato sautéed with garlic, coriander and sweet peppers; grilled aubergines served with crushed garlic; hommous served with

Lebanese for lunch?

Bread

Pappadoms and pickles

Hommous

Murgh Massala

Kafta Khosh Khash - grilled minced Lamb

fried chicken slices; chickpea puree with homemade hot pepper sauce; grilled chicken wings; marinated salmon steak; haloumi wraps; lamb sheesh kebabs; chargrilled Lebanese salads; mousakkas; Arabic mixed grills; couscous salads; okra cooked with tomatoes, garlic and olive oil; flakes of lamb marinated in light spices. Every dish as luscious, sweet, savoury and laden with taste-bud tingling flavours as the last. Treat yourself to something other than a lunchtime sandwich, why not? It won’t cost you anymore and will taste so much more delicious.

Also new on the menu at both Houses of Spice has been the decision to drop food colourings completely. And to introduce some new chef’s specials on the restaurant menus.

And what if you have a longing for a superb curry but don’t happen to be within walking distance of either Houses of Spice? Not a problem. Both the Thame and Haddenham restaurants deliver for free within a five-mile radius (although you do get a 10 per cent discount on any takeaway you pick up yourself – ample reward for that appetite-sharpening stroll). House of Spice also offers an outside catering service – parties, weddings, banquets – and the restaurants themselves can be hired for private events.

House of Spice. The sublime tastes of the east. Right here in Oxfordshire.

Lebanese Fattoosh Salad

Arabic mixed grill (Lamb and Chicken) with home made garlic sauce

Thame Tandoori, which was owned by House of Spice, is closing down. House of Spice would like to thank every Thame Tandoori customer. The good news is that the chefs are now moving to House of Spice, there to serve up the same scintillating Indian cuisine.

House of Spice Haddenham 01844 292 934 House of Spice Thame 01844 216 689

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BUSINESS *

At your

service

No matter that modern cars are paragons of mechanical and electrical engineering. They still need a bit of tender, loving care.

Just to make sure that they are truly up to the task of getting us from A to B and further afield.

Jane Mitchell pops into Thame Service Station to discover the journey a car takes when it arrives for a service or an MOT.

H

owever well made they are, our cars still need looking after. In fact, they need looking after because they are so well made. All those intricacies of finely tuned engineering, all those computer-driven connections, all those subtle, delicately balanced links between the mechanical and the electrical.

At some garages, sad to say, the health check and the overhaul – an MOT or a general service – can be a bit perfunctory. But that’s most definitely not the case at Thame Service Station.

Thame Service Station lays on not just a casual once-over but a real, thorough examination of every single car that comes in for a service. And each leaves in tip-top condition.

It isn’t, however, just the cars that get lovingly looked after at Thame Service Station. Lots of attention is devoted to the owners too. “Drivers tend to regard service day as bit of a chore,” explains

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Make yourself comfortable Thame Service Station director, Nick Allen who greets me on the forecourt.

“Here, though, we do everything to make the experience as good and as hassle-free as possible.”

The comfortable, relaxing reception area is fitted out with a television, free wi-fi, and tea, coffee and hot chocolate on supply if you choose to wait and maybe get some work done. If, however, you have to be back on the road, then there will be a free loan car in which you can drive off for the day. And the welcome from the after sales advisers, Paul, and Amy, couldn’t be friendlier.

Alternatively, you can arrange to have

Headlight alignment check your car collected either from your home or work address; to where it will be returned when it is ready.

And your car? In for a treat of its own. It will be delivered to one of Thame Service Station’s fully trained mechanics. They will cast an expert, thoroughly trained eye over every part – from engine to wheels, from the

steering to the suspension, from the clutch to the brakes, from the batteries to the exhaust, from light bulbs to fuel systems – making sure everything is in perfect working order. And correcting any problems they may find along the way. “You will also get a free wheel alignment,” adds Nick, “and a free tyre check. Your car will be hoovered and cleaned too. And for just an extra £35, we will carry out a complete valeting service.”

It sounds as if a Thame Service Station service is little short of a complete medical, with a manicure and a pedicure thrown in, for cars. But it also sounds, given the sheer amount that is paid to detail, rather expensive. “Not at all,” replies Nick. “We never, ever sell work that isn’t necessary – we are always completely transparent about what a car may or may not need doing to it.

And we don’t charge main dealer prices, even though we can service all makes and models of car from Vauxhalls and Fords and Volkswagens to Renaults and Peugeots and Fiats and BMWs. We also service cars within the manufacturers’ warranty period without it affecting the warranty.

The valeting team

Wheel alignment check

There are, Nick points out, other cost benefits to having your car serviced at Thame Service Station. “With manufacturers’ servicing schedules getting ever longer, it is vital that drivers book their car services at the right time,” he says. “This helps prevent any unwanted breakdowns. And, don’t forget, that a well serviced car is more likely to fetch a better price when you decide to sell it.”

And if you don’t require an MOT or service, Thame Service Station also provides a brilliant tyre check. Air pressure and tread depth will both be scrutinised. Should a problem be highlighted, there’s a comprehensive stock of replacement tyres all ready and waiting.

Nick is also keen to emphasise the importance that Thame Service Station attaches to customer feedback. “You will notice on our website – www.thameservicestation.co.uk – an independent car dealer review website has judged us and reported back that 96% of our customers would recommend us to a friend,” continues Nick. “We always try to improve how we look after both people and their cars.”

Excellent car care and excellent customer care. It’s all part of the service at Thame Service Station.

Thame Service Station is a national award-winning garage, and you can be sure that when you bring your car in for a service, you will not only be treated courteously, honestly and transparently, but your car will be treated as a VIP.

See you next time

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

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BUSINESS *

Will you, won’t you?

Do you really need to make a will?

M

aking a Will is a task which many people find daunting.

Many people put off making a Will for a variety of reasons; either because they do not think it is relevant to them at their particular stage of life, because they do not feel that it is necessary, or because it may force them to confront difficult issues. However, it is one of the most important exercises we will ever undertake.

Why it is important to make a Will l It gives you the peace of mind to know that your assets will be distributed according to your wishes, to beneficiaries you have chosen. l You can leave specific and often tax free gifts to your loved ones or a chosen charity. l Your wishes are clear, giving certainty to your loved ones at a difficult time. l You can appoint trusted friends, family or solicitors to deal with your estate after your death by appointing executors. l If you have children you can ensure arrangements are made to look after them if either one or both parents die before the children reach the age of 18 years by appointing guardians in the Will. l There may be opportunities to save Inheritance Tax on your death.

Wills can be a very useful tool in Inheritance Tax planning, particularly

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for married couples, or couples who have registered a civil partnership.

Careful tax planning can often help to avoid a large tax burden on death.

A Matter of Trust A trust can be incorporated into your Will which is very useful if you have disabled children or grandchildren, if you would like to delay decisions about the destination of your property, if you want to protect your beneficiaries from others or if you want to be sure that the assets remain within the family. A trust can be used to protect assets, and ensure that money is managed for the maximum benefit of the beneficiaries. A trust set up by a Will does not take effect until your death and you can choose who will act as the trustees, to administer the trust.

What will happen if I do not have a Will?

If you die without making a Will, or if your Will is not valid, you will die intestate which means that the intestacy rules, and not you, will decide how your estate will be distributed. In this way, your estate may be distributed to individuals that you may not have wished to benefit and your administrators (the people responsible for dealing with your estate) may be people who you do not want to have control over your estate. In the worst case scenario, if you have no relatives entitled to benefit under the intestacy rules, your assets will be taken by the state. It is important to bear in mind that only spouses or civil partners, and some close relatives can inherit under

the intestacy rules. This can cause great problems for unmarried couples, for example, as partners are not automatically provided for under these rules. Issues may also arise if you have re-married and have step-children as they will not be included. The intestacy rules take no account of inheritance tax saving, so tax and saving opportunities could be lost if you do not make a Will. A couple who have each been married before, and widowed, have the possibility of passing down assets worth £1.3 million completely free of inheritance tax, if their Wills are drafted correctly. In addition it is usually more expensive to administer an intestate estate. In some cases, for example, there might be considerable costs for researching potential beneficiaries if it is not clear who the beneficiaries are, or if they are difficult to trace.

Who can make a Will?

Anyone over the age of 18 who is of sound mind. It is possible for the court to make a Will on behalf of a person who doesn’t have the necessary mental capacity, but this is a complex, and expensive procedure.

Darbys’ Private Client Team would be delighted to hear from you should you require any further information or have any questions, please contact Susan Floyd, in our Private Client Team on 01844 390931 or email sfloyd@darbys.co.uk

www.darbys.co.uk

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LIFESTYLE *

The House Whisperer

Our homes are many things. A centre of gravity that binds a family together.

An expression of our personalities. A private space separate from the public world. A place of refuge. A place of memories. A place where we can be ourselves, where we can tell our own stories through the possessions that surround us. But what happens if, for whatever reason, we fall out of love with where we live? Well, help is at hand. Kezia Luckett can show us how to transform a house back into a home.

K

ezia Luckett has long held a passion for houses. Her Great Grandfather, Robert Frank Atkinson, was a renowned architect, responsible for among other buildings, the Adelphi Hotel and Selfridges in London. But her real interest is not the design and look of a house but its interior and its contents; more precisely the way it affects the emotions and thoughts of the people who live there.

“A house isn’t an address, a residence, a number on a street,” Kezia says. “It is a sanctuary after a day’s work; it should be a space in which to reclaim peace of mind; a comfort zone; somewhere you can unwind, laugh, play with the kids, relax, a meeting place for family and friends. It should be both a refuge and an intimate expression of who we are.

But sometimes people see their homes as a burden, a series of chores – tidying, cleaning, washing, ironing, dusting.

It’s an easy habit to fall into, and it can separate you from a positive connection with your home.”

There are other reasons why people can become disenchanted with their houses, continues Kezia. “It can be more than a feeling of a lack of control over domestic routines – you know, the rush to get children breakfasted and off to school, the thought of a day’s work and then the job of managing the house.

Some people get alienated from their homes for more life-changing reasons: the kids flying the nest, a divorce, or even

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bereavement,” she explains. “Houses are memory haunted. A flashback to a scene in the kitchen. The sudden surge of emotion when you come upon an article of clothing or a book or a step on the staircase or even a scent. Some will be good memories, some not so good.

Depending on the memories created in your home a gulf can open up between you and your living environment..”

For Kezia, nobody should have to be out of kilter with their homes. “Mine is a holistic approach to regaining that essential sense of homeliness,” she explains. “Of being in harmony with where you live.” Kezia will make a special visit and, depending on your circumstances, will provide tailored, bespoke practical, easy-to-manage suggestions on how best to rearrange your home in ways that match your own needs. “The aim is to help people nurture and re-energise their homes, to banish the negativities and to replace them with upbeat emotions. Out with stress, guilt, frustrations and tensions, and in with the pleasures, the joys, the security, the sense of belonging once more,” she says.

One step is to get rid of those items that hold bad memories and to emphasise those that are reminders of happier times.

But her service isn’t solely about extreme emotions such as encouraging a bereaved woman to fall back in love with her home. It is as much about fashioning a home that reflects your personality, that creates a domestic environment in tune with both the necessities of life and a more deeply subtle harmony of person

and place. “There are all sorts of things you can do to restore your relationship with your home,” says Kezia. “Wardrobe cleansing, for a start. If you haven’t worn something for ages you probably never are. If you love a chair, keep it. If you can’t stand the sight of cabinet, get rid of it. It isn’t simply about de-cluttering and it’s certainly not about pared back minimalism – it’s about fitting your home around your own emotional and psychological needs and wants. And maybe the best way to achieve this to invite in someone who isn’t as subjective or as inward as you might be about things, about the way your house looks and feels. A good, objective but gentle, understanding view can be utterly transformative.”

Often homes can change completely just with a switch in routine. “Sometimes the pressures of home life are added to by the way couples and families schedule things,” says Kezia. “Altering the times you tidy, you fill the washing machine, you get lunch boxes ready, delegating tasks to the whole family, overhauling the way you store everyday items, planning the way you use space, all of this can have a real beneficial effect on a home.”

Kezia can also lend an expert eye even before you set up home. “People often call on me to plan moves into new homes,” she adds. “Organising the move so that it causes as little stress as possible; and then overseeing the layout of the furniture in the new home so that everything works with and not against its owners.”

Not only can Kezia help clients to prepare their house for sale, her expertise will ensure they get the best possible price for it too Want to fall in love with your house?

Or fall in love with it all over again?

Give Kezia Luckett a call.

www.kezialuckett.com kezia@kezialuckett.com 07810 517739

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LIFESTYLE * Matt with a pupil

How to tune your mind It seems that learning to play a musical instrument can help sharpen the way our brains develop and mature. While having heaps of fun along the way. The life-long benefits of bowing a violin or plucking a guitar string or tinkling a piano is something in which Matt Baker of the Thame Institute of Music firmly believes. And not just as a method of self-improvement; but as a joy in itself.

Sarah Denmark reports.

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I

remember seeing my dad play the piano. The twitch of the wrists, the dance of the fingers, the supple, effortless turning of the pages of the sheet music. Yet these were nothing as to the effect the music had upon me. It played on my heart. Whether it was a hymn, a tune from a light opera, a rhythm from a 60s R&B hit or a slice of a classical piece, I was enthralled. I felt like dancing, laughing, clapping, singing and crying.

There were times when I would hold my hand to the piano as he played, not just so I could hear the music but feel it as well.

The advent of punk rock in the late 1970s rather marginalised my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution to my teenage musical tastes. What it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do, in the end, was marginalise my love of all forms of music.

Classical, operatic, jazz fusion, indie, R&B. Name it and I will give it all my generosity.

So what was the source of my fascination with those little percussive bounces of air on my ears, spelling out melodies, tempos, signatures, kneesup clustered chords and clear, sharp, individual plangent notes? Well, recent research suggests that it is something important to all human beings. It is the urge to explore, to experiment, to learn and, of course, to enjoy. But an urge that brings other benefits too.

A study conducted by medical scientists at Vermont University, in the United States, found that children who have learned to play a musical instrument also have better attention spans and a better grip on their emotions. The research team concluded that since learning to play a musical instrument calls for the control and coordination of very specific movements, it improves the motor areas of the brain.

And, just as importantly, that it also helps with memory and an ability to focus and concentrate, and to organise thinking.

COURSES Karl teaching guitar

Sat in the rooms of the Thame Institute of Music on Thame High Street, I ask Matt Baker, who runs the Institute, whether he agrees that playing music has a pay-off other than the joy of following a tune or making one up for yourself.

“Absolutely,” he replies. “There is, of course, a true pleasure in learning to play.

It involves discipline, yes, and releases at the same time your sense of creativity.

Above and beyond that, though, it broadens and improves the way you think and the way you adapt to the world. That’s especially true of children, but adults can benefit as much too.”

Matt is a classically trained pianist and has been living and teaching music in Thame for the past two years. “Here at the Thame Institute of Music we have pupils and clients from all sorts of background and all range of ages,” he says. “Children and grown-ups. In fact, we now have so many students on our books that I have had to bring in more music teachers to make sure everyone gets the attention and teaching they deserve.”

The piano and the guitar are the most popular instruments at the Thame Institute of Music, but pupils also get the chance to read and write music, and to produce and record it. “Adults tend to learn with us because they want to develop music as a hobby,” says Matt.

“The children want maybe to get extra help outside of school and to improve their grades at music.”

Matt is passionate not just about teaching music but about the way that teaching can add an extra dimension to our lives. “Music is essential to human creativity,” he continues. “It’s like maths, it’s like language. It expands our horizons, our capabilities. Take the

piano and the guitar. To play them you need to use all ten of your fingers and thumbs. That may sound obvious, but think how handling a fret board and or a keyboard can do something as simple as improving your dexterity. Then there are the other virtues music encourages: patience, perseverance, a willingness to listen and to understand the forms and structures of music, and a desire to create, improvise and communicate. It’s no wonder that many pupils with a good grounding in music are much sought after by universities and by employers, especially in the lucrative knowledge industries such as IT and software development.”

I worry that it all sounds like hard work or a project. Matt laughs: “Not at all. We make sure that learning to play a musical instrument is fun all the way.

It is a creative skill and if you drain the pleasure out of it you pull the plug on the creativity too. What we want to engender is an enthusiastic passion for music in all its forms – from classical through to jazz through to pop.”

It isn’t mechanical, by rote learning here at the Thame Institute of Music.

“We believe in active learning,” says Matt. “Of course, get the basics right, set the foundations. But then spread your wings, start building your own musical ideas. For example, we will take an Ed Sheeran song, dissect it, break it down into its parts, learn how it works and then put it back together again. Do this, and you will be able to start composing your own songs because you will have an appreciation of how different pieces of music come together.”

Matt and his fellow tutors normally teach on a one-to-one basis, but learning in small groups is getting more and more popular. The studio is well equipped with Logic Pro X, Pro Tools and GarageBand software.

For all its teaching expertise and facilities, maybe the Thame Institute of Music has something more important to offer. A reminder that music isn’t just the food of love but of life too.

Thame Carnival Matt Baker will be the Arena manager at this year’s Thame Carnival (Saturday 13 June). Thame Institute of Music will have a stand at the Carnival and will be demonstrating how it’s possible to learn a song in just five minutes. Some of Matt’s students will also be taking to the stage to showcase their talents.

Children Young Persons Ukulele Level 1 (6 week course) Taster morning June 20th. 11am - 12 noon Course starts Saturdays from June 20th - July 25th.

10 - 11am Young Persons Ukulele Level 2 (6 week course) Saturdays 10-11am: 31st Oct - 5th Dec Beginner Drum Course Level 1 (6 week course) Mondays 5-6pm & 6-7pm 15th June - 20th July & 7th Sept - 10th Oct Kids Music Theory Club (all stages of existing understanding welcome) 9-10am on Saturdays from 9th Sept onwards in school term times.

“Thame School of Rock” a 2-day course from 9am-3pm over summer 2015 exact dates tbc. Email for details.

Grade 5 Theory in a Week (ages 11+) 20 - 24th July or 27th - 31st July

Adults (tea and coffee provided!)

Level 1 Ukulele (6 week course) Wednesdays 8-9pm. 17th June - 22nd July Saturdays 11am-12pm. 5th Sep - 10th Oct Level 2 Ukulele (6 week course) Wednesdays 8-9pm. 9th Sept - 14th Oct Saturdays 11am-12pm. 31st Oct - 5th Dec Level 3 Ukulele (6 week course) Wednesdays 8-9pm. 28th Oct - 2nd Dec Beginner Drum Course Level 1 (6 week course) Mondays 7-8pm. 29th June - 17th August Music Theory for Adults (6 week course) Each course will be tailored to the individuals on the course.

Saturdays 10-11am. 5th Sept - 10th Oct Saturdays 10-11am. 31st Oct - 5th Dec

Contact Matt Baker Thame Institute of Music 18 Cornmarket, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2BL 07400 071342 info@thameinstituteofmusic.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT *

A brush with the arts This summer, Art in Action at Waterperry Gardens will be a revelation and an inspiration for anyone who enjoys fine art, master craftsmanship and enthralling creativity.

W

ay back in 1977, Bernard Saunders set up a unique art event. Rather than just an exhibition of art and craft, he saw a public demonstration of just how painters, sculptors, musicians, illustrators, potters, woodworkers, metalworkers, printmakers, jewellers and glass blowers went about their work. The event would be a series of open studios where people could watch and learn as the various artists and craftspeople shaped and fashioned their materials, explained their techniques and discussed the ways in which they conceived and created their art. And so Art in Action was born.

In an interview, Bernard described the thinking behind the project.

“There was no one single reason why I inaugurated Art in Action,” he said.

“It was a case of three reasons coming together in a flash. The first was that, as one who had worked with artists all my life, I knew just how difficult it was for artists to reach the right public for their work, and to sell it. The second reason was that I was looking after a country house and horticultural institute with

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a lovely sweep of grounds, flowers and grass, which did not get the full public use they deserved. The third reason was that, two years before, I had attended a craft demonstration at a famous London museum and gallery, at which the people beyond the front rows could not see the demonstration. I knew I could offer more time and space for demonstrators.

I wanted to go for demonstrations by the finest of fine artists, painters and sculptors in particular.”

Art in Action struck an immediate chord with the public. “The response to Art in Action was moving,” recalled Bernard. “People wrote letters praising the friendliness, the peacefulness, the organisation. Sometimes the effect has been very profound, like the family with a ‘problem teenager’ who after a day at Art in Action found a whole fresh start in their family relationships.”

Buoyed by such support, Art in Action has grown in size and ambition, becoming one of the most innovative and exciting events of its kind anywhere in Europe, a place of pilgrimage for anyone thrilled by the arts, both the traditional

and the contemporary. Visitors arrive to marvel at paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, textiles and furniture not simply as finished artefacts but as processes, as evolutions in time and place, as acts of creativity.

This year, Art in Action is running from 16 to 19 July at its traditional home of Waterperry Gardens, and, with over 400 artists, designers, teachers, musicians and performers slated to appear, it promises to be the one of the most exciting and inspirational yet.

There will be demonstrations of every type of painting, marrying technique and vision, from oils to watercolours, from the figurative to the impressionistic and the abstract, from landscapes to narrative scenes. Just as much an attraction will be the sculpture. Visitors will be able to watch as stone, metal, wood, ice, glass, plaster wire and clay are shaped into an array of naturalistic, abstract, sensuous, flowing forms.

And what of the other arts and crafts that will be on display? It is as broad as the imagination allows. Calligraphers will show how the word, in all its visual glory, has an immediacy and mystery beyond

“

I believe that the purpose of

”

art is to uplift people

Bernard Saunders.

Art in Action founder.

just its form. From scalloped vases to fluted bowls, you will be able to marvel at the shapes and textures that can be conjured in ceramics. The same creative magic will be on view in the glassblowing demonstrations.

You will see jewellery and metalwork at their most exceptional. Also on display will be a whole variety of printmaking methods. The art of the textile is a beautiful drawing together of the threads of colour, texture, shape and form. The

art of woodworking, just as graceful and considered and imaginative, is that of moving with and against the grain of a material. Artists that are exemplary in all these traditions will be taking the breath away with their skills.

Along with discussions by the artists and designers themselves, and questionand-answer sessions in the workshops, there will be a host of practical classes for both grown ups and children who would like to find out just how much fun there is to be had liberating the creative spark within themselves.

As if all that were not enough to refresh the spirit, Art in Action will be laying on performing artists; storytelling for children; guided tours of the beautiful Waterperry gardens and the exquisite frescoes on the walls of Waterperry House; cream teas from the Pear Tree Restaurant; a good selection of wines, champagne and Pimm’s served on the lawn in front of the house; and a mouthwatering choice of organic and artisan food stalls throughout the site.

Go on. Enjoy a brush with the arts this summer.

Art In Action: 16 – 19 July Book online at www.artinaction.org.uk

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OUT & ABOUT *

Love and affection Each year a part of the Oxfordshire countryside is transformed into a generationtranscending, generous-hearted, spirit-illuminating celebration of folk music, pop, theatre, dance and sheer rootedness.

Emily Hurst looks forward, as she does every year, to the Towersey Festival (now at Thame Showground).

And 2015 promises to be exceptional. market is alive with the hubhub of over a hundred different stalls, selling every conceivable item from garden herbs and handmade soaps to lustrous jewellery and clothing you would never find in any high street store.

Yet, for all its flamboyance and revelry, at the beating heart of Towersey is a bedrock: a commitment to exceptional British folk; to alternative pop; to music of every kind; and to a theatre that embraces every generation.

The breadth of Towersey’s imaginative scope is nowhere better demonstrated than in the stunning line-up for 2015.

Among the headline acts slated for the Festival – day tickets available, hurrah, I say, as a local and a non-tent person – are Joan Armatrading and Bellowhead.

Joan Armatrading

S

ome events have an aura; a presence, a personality that is born not concocted; born, in part, of an idealistic honesty to themselves and, in part, of the exuberance, enthusiasm and joy with which they are embraced by those who attend them. Towersey Festival is one such. To see the Festival as simply a bringing together of some of the best names in folk, acoustic, blues and world music over four days in August – as if that were not enough to make the world a brighter, lovelier place – would be to miss half of its point. For it also a place to which people come to share in the enduring, connecting pleasures of music and theatre, food and drink, to create a community. Towersey is both timeless and of the moment.

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Towersey Festival is a carnival of sights and sounds. Friends and family groups set up tents in the camping field (you don’t have to make a pitch to pitch up though – there are day tickets for the major acts if you live locally); flags flutter in the breeze above rainbow coloured windbreaks and fairground bunting; circus-style marquees are adorned by bristling banners; falafel vans and bistro tables waylay you; storytellers and troubadours, cabaret acts and bagpipers wander the crowds entertaining the countless children; festival goers pass dressed in tutus, flamenco dresses; they dance in swirls, in eights, in angel’s wings; and they dance to everything from Swedish polska to salsa to centuries-old Cotswold tunes. The

Belowhead

for Towersey Festival Three times Grammy nominated and two times Brit nominated, Joan Armatrading’s music is as distinctive as it is imaginative. Effortlesly eclectic, her sound has ranged from jazz to true soul to sophisticated pop. Eleven-piece Bellowhead marry jazz, folk, world and classical songs in a swathe of brass, strings, squeezebox and percussion, creating a music that both honours centuries of English tradition while at the same time constantly pressing forward into the future.

Other acts at Towersey 2015 are as eclectic as they are inspirational. They include Show of Hands, the awardwinning, sell-out band from WOMAD to Glastonbury, crossing folk origins

to blues, country, trad jazz and world music; Stornaway, formed in Oxford, is a four-piece British indie folk band whose sound incorporates an ever-changing selection of strings and keyboards, supported by a typical pop backline of guitar, drums and bass; John Smith, one of the most exciting voices on the new British folk scene; renowned singer and songwriter, Sally Barker; the incredibly exciting Treacherous Orchestra, described as a coming together from a Celtic Noah’s Ark, leading in, two by two, double helpings of pipes, fiddles and percussion with vibrant dash of accordion, banjo and guitar to produce a music that is as versatile as the band is big. To all of this you can add Anxo

Lorenzo, Blackbeard’s Tea, Chris While and Julie Matthews, Phil Beer, Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr.

Towersey, though, is nothing if not a family event. There will be so much for the kids too: workshops, dancing, singing, puppetry. On the Showground you will be able to enjoy hundreds of delights: music, comedy, magic, circus performances and street theatre. Not to mention real ale bars and food that mouthwateringly spans everything from Mexican and Asian to produce that has been grown in a field just up the road.

Towersey Festival. Friday 28 to Monday 31 August. Love and affection through and through.

Show Of Hands

Stornoway

Adult day tickets from £30; Youth (12-17) from £21; Child (5-11) from £14. Tickets for the full Festival £135 Adult, £110 Conc, £95 Youth, £55 Child. All under 5 FREE. Discounts for Thame and Towersey residents - call for details. Showground-only tickets available on the day.

Details: www.towerseyfestival.com

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LIFESTYLE *

Celebrate the good M

eadow View Park is famous as the home of Thame United. But it also has another claim to fame – as a fantastic stage for all sorts of events.

The facilities here are second to none.

And they are flexible too. The rooms, for example, that form part of the complex are ideal for everything from wedding receptions for 400 to small scale business meetings for just five.

But it isn’t just the variety of spaces available that sets Meadow View Park

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apart, as events manager Frank Thompson explains. “We have a specialised, dedicated events team here,” he says. “We’re expert in what we call ‘blank canvas’ planning. That means we can change and design each area so that it fits exactly with what our clients are looking for. The spaces can be transformed completely. The shape, for instance, can be altered so that it is either more intimate or more expansive.

We can re-fashion the décor – removing or adding furniture, building stages

and putting up wall linings, dressing the rooms with sail cloths to create a marquee effect. And we can install extra equipment such as business presentation screens, sound systems and computer networks. We can also put the outside areas to good use too – marquees, tents, benches and chairs.”

Frank and his vastly experienced team have been organising a lot of wedding receptions of late. There are two separate bars, a fully commercial kitchen and Meadow View’s very own catering

Whether it’s a wedding reception, a private party, a business meeting or fundraising event, there’s no better a venue than Meadow View Park reports Gavin MacMahon.

times service. You can either discuss creating a special menu or choose from the mouthwatering sample menus that the kitchen lays on. These include fine dining, topnotch banquets, hog roasts, buffets or canapé receptions. Better still, Frank and his team can take on all the pressure of planning the day or evening down to the very last detail.

Frank also points out that, as well as the great food, the bars, and the endlessly flexible rooms, there is the bonus of ample parking space – no going up and

down side streets looking for a place to leave the car. “There’s parking for up to 160 cars and five coaches,” he says. “And, given our location, there are excellent road links in and out of Thame.”

But it isn’t just wedding receptions for which Meadow View Park has become a popular choice of destination.

“Given the flexibility of configurations we have,” continues Frank, “and given the fact that you can book all or part of the complex, we are staging ever more private parties. Sometimes it’s a family anniversary, sometimes it’s a birthday bash, sometimes it’s a school prom, sometimes it’s a fundraising ball. What they all have in common, though, is that we provide just the right setting for the occasion, whatever its size.”

Meadow View Park is equally adept at accommodating business functions.

“The level of flexibility we have here allows us to offer businesses and firms any kind of venue they might need for a corporate event – conferences, seminars, meetings, training days, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, product launches, awards evenings, staff events, dances and quiz nights,” says Frank.

“Small rooms, large rooms, in-house catering, free wi-fi access, facilities tailored to suit the nature of the meeting and the budget.”

It was always intended that Meadow View Park would be more than just a football club. “The stadium and the complex was built with the wider Thame community in mind,” says Frank. “So it’s been a real plus that so

many local people, companies, clubs, charities and associations are using the place to celebrate, to mark events, to create new business opportunities.”

That sense of community spirit and welcome extends to individuals as well as groups. “Absolutely everyone can pop along to Meadow View Park,” continues Frank. “We’re not a member-only club.

Our doors are open to all. You can simply walk in and buy a drink at the bar and, maybe, watch a big sporting occasion on the screens in the Sports Bar in the company of other fans. With the Ashes coming up, it’s a fantastic way of sharing in the experience of seeing the Aussie batting order collapse in a heap.”

Entertainment is another big draw for Meadow View Park. “We stage regular celeb evenings,” adds Frank.

“This September and October, we will be putting on our really popular Sportsmens Dinners. Recently the guest speakers have included Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris and Dean Saunders.”

Meadow View Park. The place to enjoy a great and successful time.

The Meadow View Park hospitality team are now taking bookings for Christmas and New Year parties.

Make sure you are on the list.

Meadow View Park, Thame, Oxon OX9 3RN 01844 214401 admin@thamefootball.co.uk www.thamefootball.co.uk

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ENTERTAINMENT *

What’s new at the

New Theatre

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 13 – 18 July

Frozen (singalong)

The National Theatre’s multi awardwinning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will come to the New Theatre Oxford on July 13 – 18, 2015, as part of a major tour of the UK and Ireland.

Simon Stephens’ adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time received seven Olivier Awards in 2013 including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design. It also won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre and has been seen by over 200,000 people during its run in the West End. Christopher, fifteen years old, stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington.

He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

13 September

It’s the most popular Disney comedy-adventure to hit the big screen and, with the fairydust of Singalonga added, it is coming to the New Theatre Oxford on September 13 (11am and 3pm).

Come on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, the Snow Queen and put an end to her icy spell.

This is a full screening of Disney’s Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along during the film.

Introduced by a live host who will guide you through this interactive screening by showing you how to use your free prop bag, warm up your singing voices and teach you some dance moves with the help of a couple of special princesses. Watch as we bring the film to life and help you experience this movie in a whole new light as we bring Elsa and Anna onstage as if they have walked out of the film.

So get your little ones dressed up as their favourite character and come and see Sing-a-Long-a FROZEN where YOU the audience are the stars. Age recommendation 5+ Sooooo ‘do you wanna build a snowman?’

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.

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 4 – 8 August DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS opened in the West End in March this year to rave reviews and packed houses. This musical is based on the legendary 1988 film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin.

The show stars Michael Praed as Lawrence, Noel Sullivan as Freddy, Carley Stenson as Christine and Mark Benton as Andre. They are joined by Geraldine Fitzgerald as Muriel.

Tony Award winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell said “I am thrilled that Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, our very first show from Jerry Mitchell Productions, will be taking to the road in the UK. I have no doubt that every city we visit will take this hilarious show to their hearts and will laugh and enjoy this musical as much as a quarter of a million people who have already seen it so far have done”.

Hairspray

Prepare to be transported to the luxurious lap of the French Riviera where the decadent world of sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson is set to come crashing down with the arrival of largerthan-life Freddy Benson – a conman of an entirely different order.

Soon realising the town ain’t big enough for the both of them, the two find themselves going head to head in the con of their lives, pulling out all of the stops in a bid for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate. Little do they know what they’ve let themselves in for.

21 – 28 September

THE Nicest Kids In Town are returning to Oxford as the major 40-week UK tour of Hairspray which comes to the New Theatre.

Tony Maudsley (ITV1’s Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad, with TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and muchloved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle.

Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley

Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) will play Little Inez, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) will play Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) will play Duane. Further casting will be announced in due course.

This big, bold and beautiful musical comedy will begin its UK tour at Leicester’s Curve theatre on September 9, 2015 and will then tour over 25 venues across the UK, including a Christmas residency at Birmingham Alexandra Theatre.

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ENTERTAINMENT *

Playing at the Oxford Playhouse Mrs Warren’s Profession 14–18 July The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.

Young Cambridge graduate Vivie Warren is horrified to learn that her education and luxurious lifestyle have been financed by her mother’s career in the world’s oldest profession.

Written in 1894, this groundbreaking play wasn’t allowed a public performance for the next thirty years!

Bernard Shaw’s period drama is full of insight and humane understanding, ranking as one of his masterpieces alongside Pygmalion and Saint Joan. In this sumptuous production, Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses, The Green Green Grass) stars as Mrs Warren alongside Christopher Timothy (All Creatures Great and Small, Doctors, Dial M for Murder).

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap 17 – 22 August The Mousetrap is famous around the world for being the longest running show in the history of British theatre. Don’t miss this legendary West End show at the Playhouse for one week only.

The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house and cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until, at the last nerve-shredding moment, the identity and the motive are finally revealed.

In her own inimitable style, Dame Agatha Christie creates an atmosphere of shuddering suspense and a brilliantly intricate plot where murder lurks around every corner. Not to be missed.

Much Ado About Nothing 21 July – 2 August

k COM PETITIONk Win a pair of tickets to the opening night of Mrs Warren’s Profession on Tuesday 14 July.

See page 66.

Ticket Office: 01865 305305 l www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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Firmly established as one of Oxford’s cultural highlights, Oxford Playhouse and the Bodleian Library are delighted to welcome back the Globe Theatre on Tour to perform Much Ado About Nothing in the stunning outdoor setting of the Old Schools Quadrangle.

Driven along by a romance all the more charming for being in denial, Much Ado About Nothing is a miracle of comic and dramatic suspense and gives us, in the bantering Beatrice and Benedick, one of Shakespeare’s wittiest and most endearing pairs of lovers.

LISTINGS *

What & where & when July 2-4 3 4 5 6 7

NEW THEATRE – OXFORD www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk 0870 606 3500 June 20

Michael McIntyre Work In Progress 21 Reginald D Hunter The Man Who Attempted To Do As Much As Such 27 An Evening with The Overtones 29 - 4 July The Producers July 5 Spotlight Variety Show 6 - 11 Love Me Tender 14 - 18 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 23 - 25 The Songbook of Judy Garland August 4-8 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels September 3 The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain – 30 Plucking Years 4 Roy Chubby Brown 13 Sing-a-Long-a Frozen 14 Nigel Kennedy presents: Hendrix 19 Art Garfunkel 21 - 26 Hairspray the Musical OXFORD PLAYHOUSE www.oxfordplayhouse.com 01865 305305 June 16 - 20 22 - 27 23 24 25 26 27 - 28 30 - 2 July

It’s A Wonderful Life Peter Pan Goes Wrong How To ‘Like’ Your Life Never Mind The Bollards I Told You This Would Happen Oxjams Gorilla Gardening The Canterbury Tales

Alice In Wonderland Beating Mcenroe Up In The Attic Dr Longitude’s Menagerie We Can Be Heroes The Rise And Fall Of A Northern Star 9 Ovid’s Heroines 10 Flanders & Swann 10 Arrest That Poet 11 Me And My Cat 11 Claire Martin 14 - 18 Mrs Warren’s Profession 15 - 18 Golive Oxford 21 - 2 Aug Much Ado About Nothing 22 - 25 Soho Comedy Nights 29 - 30 Tonight With Donny Stixx August 17 - 22 The Mousetrap 25 - 29 Room On The Broom September 5 Old Mother Hubbard 8 Vanity Bites Back 9 Going Viral 23 - 26 Charlotte Sometimes THE PLAYERS THEATRE – THAME www.thameplayers.co.uk The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 2DP June 14 The Shakespeare Revue The welcome return of this lively theatre company, White Cobra, this time bringing us this Shakespeare Revue which is a lighthearted collection of sketches, songs and anecdotes inspired by the works and reputation of William Shakespeare, compiled by Christopher Luscombe and Malcolm McKee July 7 - 11 The Taming of the Shrew Shakespeare without tears. A boisterous comedy for all to enjoy and which inspired Cole Porter’s musical ‘Kiss Me, Kate’.

August 1 Raising Agents 100 years of the WI. On the threshold of one century into the next, this tale of hobbyists and lobbyists asks how much we should know our past or how much we should let go of it.

WATERSIDE THEATRE 0844 871 7607 June 18 & 20 Northern Ballet Madame Butterfly 20 Northern Ballet Elves & the Shoemaker 22 - 27 East is East 28 Tring Park Dance Gala

July 1 5 5 6 - 11 16 16 22 August 13 21 - 22 26 31 - 1 Sept September 4 15 17 - 19 22 - 3 Oct MIsc June 21 27 28

ENO Live Screening - Carmen Celebrate 1975 - 2015 ROH Live Screening Guillaume Tell Derren Brown: Miracle NT Live Screening - Everyman An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show RSC Live Screening The Merchant of Venice Basil Brush Plan, Participate, Perform RSC Live Screening - Othello King Crimson Comedy Club Aida on Sydney Harbour Screening The Last Tango Jersey Boys

Towersey Manor Fete

Craft & Gift Market at Thame Town Hall CPM Thame 10k 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Thame Leisure Centre

July

3 3

25 September 26

Waddesdon Manor Behind the Scenes Tours Cooking event with Lotte Duncan and Miranda Gore Browne. AGA, Thame.

Craft & Gift Market at Thame Town Hall Thame Food Festival

Thame Out The complimentary magazine for the Thame area

How to reach more customers

Carr parked in Oxford Jimmy Carr at the New Theatre

Autumn 2009 Issue 11

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

To advertise in Thame Out call: 01844 216847 or Email: julian@red-l.co.uk See the website: www.thameout.co.uk LEISURE ☛ BEAUTY ☛ HOME ☛ TRAVEL ☛ LOCAL ☛ COMPETITIONS ☛ AND LOTS MORE ☛

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COMPETITIONS *

b

Wordplay

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 12th July 2015. Alternatively, you can email your answer to julian@red-l.co.uk

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

Answers below.

1. Embat (A) To plan a night time raid.

(B) A Tasmanian marsupial.

(C) A northerly wind that blows across Egypt from Turkey.

Free Book Competition A FREE SIGNED copy of ‘A View from a Lake’ will go to the first correct entry out of the hat.

The question Neil Hayes’ book is based on the teachings of? a) Marx b) Pythagoras c) Buddah (See page 5 for details)

2. Valonia (A) Dried acorn cups of evergreen Mediterranean oaks, used in tanning.

(B) The courage to speak out in a small group when the majority opinion is against you.

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 is all about the benefits of what? a) Drinking water b) Stretching c) Weight Loss (See page 10 for details)

(C) An in depth knowledge of the Iberian peninsula.

3. Oenophily (A) The study of board games, particularly those using dice.

(B) Love and knowledge of wine.

Summer offers from Kingsey Kitchens (See page 3) 20% Off Penny Kay Garden Design (See page 27) Special Trave Offer from Spear Travel (See page 39) Reduced Price Ticket offer from Art in Action (See page 53)

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And the winners were Congratulations to our last issue winners.

Personal Trainer Prize – Bev Bristow, Tiddington New Theatre Tickets – Tracey Reid, Stone Oxford Playhouse Tickets – Maria Martins, Wendover Signed Book Prize – Frances Sherrington, Chinnor

1. Embat Answer: (C) A northerly wind that blows across Egypt from Turkey.

Special Offers

Sandra Smith www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk

2. Valonia Answer: (A) Dried acorn cups of evergreen Mediterranean oaks, used in tanning, dyeing and making ink.

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

(C) A fascination for variegated shrubs.

3. Oenophily Answer: (B) Love and knowledge of wine.

Oxford Playhouse Competition A pair of tickets to the opening night of Mrs Warren’s Profession on Tuesday 14 July will go to the first correct entry out of the hat.

The question Vivie Warren is a graduate from which university? a) Cambridge b) Oxford c) Durham (See page 64 for details)

JASON MANFORD COMING TO THE NEW THEATRE IN 2015

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