Thame Out Autumn 2018
The complimentary magazine for the Thame area
Now in our 13th year
COOK’S TOUR An evening with Nigella Lawson
TALENTED, NATURALLY The Thame company that cares for our trees
FAMILY BUSINESS
The trials and tribulations of a mother running her own business
WINTER FUEL
Local supplier of quality logs
SHE SHAW LOOKS GOOD
Actress Suzanne Shaw’s skin care treatment
SHOWING HER METAL
Artist, Jenny Pickford sculptures on show at Waterperry
VISIONARY DESIGNS
Bespoke spectacles
LEISURE > BEAUTY > HOME > TRAVEL > LOCAL > COMPETITIONS > AND LOTS MORE
> THAME OUT
Contents 6. LOCAL NEWS – Thame Food Festival, Thame Concert Band, Wine Fair, Steve Hill Rallycross, French Markets and Midsomer Tours . 10. HEALTH & BEAUTY – Expert Eye care, Healthy Mind and Body, Skin Care. 24. TRAVEL – Surprising Vietnam with Spear Travels. 26. LIFESTYLE – White Hart Studio, Nicole Clewer and Beechcroft Retirement Homes 32. HOME & GARDEN – Kingsey Kitchens, House of Kingswood, Stratton Audley Barn, Four Seasons Tree Care, Pasture Care, Jenny Pickford Sculptures and Dandara Homes. 56. FOOD & DRINK – Wine Column. 54. EDUCATION – Ashfold School. 58. OUT & ABOUT – Green Dragon Rare Breeds Farm . 60. ENTERTAINMENT – New Theatre and Oxford Playhouse. 64. LISTINGS 66. COMPETITIONS
Excellence for all your foot care needs
Cover: Oxford New Theatre See page 63.
Thame Out
Opinions expressed in Thame 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.
GENERAL FOOT CARE DIABETIC FOOT HEALTH ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY VERRUCAE TREATMENT GAIT ANALYSIS PLANTAR FASCIITIS FUNGAL NAILS
Copyright ©2018 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
13a Upper High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3ER Tel: 01844 261023 Email: enquiries@feet-first.org www.feet-first.org
> LOCAL NEWS
Strike up the band
Thame Concert Band is a Community wind and brass band that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The band are based at Christchurch in Thame and meet each week on a Tuesday evening between 7.30 and 9.30 pm Some players travel from as far afield as High Wycombe, Oxford and Aylesbury. The band are an integral part of the music in Thame with several concerts each year including a “Last Night at the Proms”. They also play at the Remembrance Day Service, Christmas Carols around the Tree, Switching on of the Christmas lights and Music in the Park. Thame Concert Band also play at a number of other venues including Chesham and Henley bandstands in the summer and village fetes.
This year the band had a charity concert raising money for the Thame Youth café and Thame Children’s centre. Conductor and Musical Director, Callum Rookes, is an accomplished Tuba player and a member of the Band of the Coldstream Guards. The repertoire of over 400 pieces, ranges from well known film and show music through Sinatra songs and Glen Miller arrangements to opera, classics and original works for concert bands. If you wanted to book Thame Concert Band they will do their best to tailor a programme especially for your needs and are equally happy being the centre of attention or providing background music at a large gathering. The next concert is The Last Night of the Proms on September 15th at 7pm Last year it was a great success and had the audience on its feet, singing and cheering. The band are currently looking for new members and would be very welcoming to anyone who would like to come and have a go. If you are interested in joining and would like to know more : Email: thameconcertband@gmail.com Or just turn up! www.thameconcertband.org.uk
French Market THE POPULAR FRENCH MARKET IS COMING BACK TO THAME, HIGH STREET, ON FRIDAY 26TH & SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER, FROM 9AM TO 5PM Whether you’re looking to pick up a few unique items for yourself or a gift for someone special, or to stock up your food cupboard with unique items, the French Market in Thame is a must visit. You’ll have the chance to explore a variety of stalls selling traditional French foods, including: a large variety of French cheeses, cooked meats, breads, pastries and, of course, crepes; art and crafts including retro art prints, classic French advertising and hand crafted gifts; fashion and accessories like handbags and purses as well as a range of hats and scarves; and of course basketware and music to please all age groups. It is well worth a visit!
Thame wine fair Friends of Thame and District Citizens Advice are holding their 5th annual Wine Fair on Saturday 10 November at Thame Town Hall from mid-day until 18.00. Entrance to the Fair costs £6 which includes a £3 charity donation to Citizens Advice. For the price of a glass of wine you can taste & discuss fine quality wines from around the world with Wine Merchants who buy directly from the growers; and buy/ order directly from them at the Fair.
6. Thame Out
Thame Out The complimentary magazine for the Thame area
Autumn 2009 Issue 11
MagaScene FREE
SUMMER 2016 u
THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR BICESTER AND BEYOND
The kids are alright
Family friendly holidays from Spear Travels
Cultivating customers
The Plough in Marsh Gibbon
Christmas treats
Carr parked in Oxford Jimmy Carr at the New Theatre
Grape taste
Stratton Audley’s year round Christmas Barn
Magic of the Middle East
Dropit 21 can help cure a sweet tooth
Corking wines at Wines Unfurled
Bittersweet
What makes Syria a fantastic holiday destination
Picture perfect
Truly engaging Gorgeous bridal gowns and beautiful wedding rings
LEISURE ☛ BEAUTY ☛ HOME ☛ TRAVEL ☛ LOCAL ☛ COMPETITIONS ☛ AND LOTS MORE ☛
Portrait photography from Paul Wilkinson
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HEALTH BEAUTY HOME TRAVEL BUSINESS LOCAL ...
To advertise Call: 01844 216847 or Email: julian@red-l.co.uk See the website: www.thameout.co.uk
Dancing on Ice-ing sugar
There are a host of celebrity Chefs and Bakers appearing on the Magimix Stage at this year’s Thame Food Festival. Candice Brown is appearing alongside Matt Evers on Sunday 30th September. You’ll know them as the fabulous pair skating on ITV’s 2018 Dancing on Ice Series. Matt is actually a fabulous cook too and together they’ll be ‘Dancing on Icing Sugar’. Candice Brown shot to fame when she won the The Great British Bake Off 2016.
Born in North London, Candice grew up in the pubs that her parents ran – and that she famously immortalised in gingerbread for her most talked about showstopper. Taught to bake by her beloved Nan, Candice strives to emulate her style, often referring back to her treasured recipe book and hand written notes. Candice loves everything vintage and her sense of style certainly captured Great British Bake Off viewers’ attention. Since her GBBO victory, she has been extremely busy with a diverse range of projects. She is a regular columnist for The Sunday Times’ writing in the magazine and The Dish, has baked on This Morning and Christmas Kitchen and has appeared as a panelist on Loose Women. She has worked with online financial service PayPal on a charity campaign, with big brands including Fanta and Sainsbury’s on PR activations, been featured in Hello and Ok! magazine and has tested lipsticks for Heat magazine.
She has also taken part in live baking demos at The Cake and Bake Show and Foodies Festival and this summer will see her baking at food festivals up and down the country. Candice’s very first book, Comfort (Ebury Press) was released in July 2017 and it is a labour of love. The recipes are easy to make and “no nonsense” for a variety of occasions, including baking with kids, birthday parties for all ages, Christmas, afternoon tea, quick savoury bakes for weeknights and “fancier” recipes for the weekend. Recipes include Toffee apple crumble, Cornflake tart, Triple layer berry cake, Christmas cake, a perfect roast chicken, black pudding sausage rolls, Tattie scones, Pork and apple pasties and homemade pork scratchings.
Classical cuisine Gilly Hall Travers has been a Commissioning Editor for BBC Entertainment for the last 10 years, commissioning such programmes as Three Men in a Boat and Only Connect, She has been the Executive Producer for Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie to You and Masterchef on BBC One and University Challenge on BBC Two. Gilly began her academic career studying Latin and Ancient Greek at Bedford College, Royal Holloway University, London where she discovered a passion for Italian and Roman Cuisine. This Cookery book is a modern interpretation of Ancient Roman repasts, a fusion of Roman and Italian cuisine transported from the Roman culina into today’s Italian kitchen; but
maintaining the history and integrity of the original classical recipes. They are inspired by the gastronome and bon viveur Marcus Apicius, who lived, cooked and entertained during the reign of Emperor Tiberius in Imperial Rome some 2,000 years ago. He was, by all accounts, the Antonio Carluccio of his time. Over 450 of his recipes were recovered and translated in the aftermath of the decline of the Roman Empire, circa 350 AD, and these form the foundation of this book, brought up to date into the Italian kitchen. The dishes are simple, imaginative and colourful Italian modern-day food with a classical twist.
k COM PETITIONk WIN GILLY’S LOVELY COOKERY BOOK. See page 66.
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> LOCAL NEWS
Steve Hill (left) presents a signed photo’ to Paul Coombs
Steve Hill, Rallycross driver and Chris Connolly of Thame Crash Repair Centre; two local boys and their friendship goes back years. Just as well really as Rallycross involves eight cars racing round a tight circuit so the potential for damaging your car is hugely increased. Steve is a six times National Rally Champion. Due to escalating costs of Rallying, Steve has now moved over to Rallycross. Still an expensive sport Steve relies on sponsorship. Thankfully, for the past two years, Thame Crash Repairs has been involved in sponsoring ‘Steve Hill Rallycross’ ( based near Chearsley).
Rallying support Steve’s car is an owner designed and self-built Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10. With a current power output of 600 BHP, it is capable of 0-60 in less than 2 seconds. A faster acceleration to 100KPH than a formula one car. Steve competes in the British Rallycross Championship and has had
consistent wins and podium places over the past 9 years. He’s the man to beat. Thame Crash Repair take the car after races. Reliable, consistent and at the forefront of technology in their operation, they repair straighten and respray as required. Thame Crash repair team also attend the Rallycross events.
In recognition of their support Steve recently presented a signed photo to Paul Coombs, manager at Thame Crash Repair Centre. Thame Crash Repair Centre are helping to keep Steve on track for even more success.
Next Stop Midsomer Junction
Next month sees the start of a new Midsomer Tour package, starting with a guided walking tour of Thame and followed by a steam trip on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR). The rail journey includes cream tea in the afternoon tea car. The new combined Midsomer tour starts on Sunday 17th September, with further tours on Sunday 7th and Sunday 14th October. Thame is one of the most frequently used filming locations in the popular ITV series Midsomer Murders, featuring either as Causton or as one of the fictional villages in Midsomer County.
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The Midsomer guided walking tours of Thame have grown in popularity, following their highly successful début last year. For the new Sunday afternoon tour, you will be led by trained tour guides round many of the 20-plus filming locations in Thame town centre, including the Town Hall, Thame Museum, the Swan and Spread Eagle Hotels. After the walking tour, your murderous adventure continues when you arrive at Chinnor Railway Station. The station became Holm Lane Junction in the Death in a Chocolate Box episode, when the station signs were changed, buffers were installed, and the station platform and train were drenched, to create the Midsomer illusion. Taking your reserved seat in the afternoon tea car, you will pass over the level crossing at Wainhill, featured in The Made to Measure Murders. During the journey you will be served cream tea with locally baked scones, cream, butter and jam. The round trip lasts about 55 minutes. Tony Long, coordinator for Thame Midsomer Tours said, ‘Just like C&PRR, the Midsomer Tours are conducted by volunteers. The more people coming on these new tours, the more funds can be generated, both to help maintain the railway and help Midsomer Tours donate to charitable causes locally. Last year we donated over £700 to the Mayor’s Charities and Thame Museum. The guides themselves don’t take any income from the tours’.
Photo’s: Julian Foster
Great Scots
Saturday night’s alright ... for seeing two mighty Scottish bands wow their audience. Towersey Festival seems to get bigger and better every year. Huge credit to the organisers for attracting some top acts. The four day festival featured the likes of Beth Orton, The Shires, Richard Thompson plus a whole host of superb supporting acts. The highlight for this music fan was Saturday night’s double header of two of Scotland’s finest combo’s.
First up were Big Country. The lineup has fluctuated over the years and features a mix of original and more recent members. The current band lines-up as Jamie Watson (Guitar), Bruce Watson (Guitar), Mark Brzezicki (Drums), Simon Hough (Vocals) and Scott Whitley (Bass). What a show they put on as well. A perfect support to The Proclaimers, Big Country belted out all their hits. Naturally, ‘Fields of Fire’, ‘Look Away’ and ‘In a Big Country’ had the audience jumping. The highlight for me was
the audience singing back ‘Chance’ to the band. Very moving, especially remembering the late Stuart Adamson delivering those lyrics. Some great banter with the audience from guitarist and original band member, Bruce Watson, fantastic songs and an awesome vocal performance from Simon Hough made for a great evening. And we hadn’t even seen the headline act yet. The main arena was already full by 9.00pm in anticipation of The Proclaimers set that was due to start at 9.20pm. Twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid have carved out a unique niche for themselves, entertaining fans with the emotional honesty, political fire, wit and sing along raucousness of their songs. The Proclaimers treated us to a set of all the above. ‘Cap In Hand’ a flag waver for Scottish independence was hugely popular with the ex-pat Scots around me (whisper it, but this Englishman loves it as well). The set was a great mix of new songs and crowd favourites. ‘Letter From America’, ‘I’m On My Way’, Let’s Get Married and my personal favourite ‘ Sunshine On Leith’ a song that is somehow both melancholic and uplifting. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) was as you would guess the finale.. At Towersey, I have had the pleasure of seeing the likes of The Blockheads, Billy Bragg, Newton Faulkner and Bellowhead. All great nights, but with respect to all those acts Saturday 25th August 2018 was for me the best yet. John Fowler
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> HEALTH & BEAUTY
Your best skin yet
Actress and TV personality Suzanne Shaw benefits from some revolutionary treatment at Springwell Clinic in Marlow.
S
pringwell Clinic in Marlow is an Aesthetic Nurse led Medical Clinic that prides itself on providing natural looking treatments. They often refer to themselves as a skin clinic as they choose to take a more natural looking approach to their treatments. As a result, the clinic attracts a vast array of clients who want to maintain their appearance. They don’t however always opt for injectables whether that is because of personal preferences or certain career paths. Enter Actress and TV personality Suzanne Shaw and the revolutionary technology of Kleresca. A completely non invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that increases collagen production by up to 400%!! Suzanne 37, came to Springwell with concerns such as pore size, general lack lustre and fatigue to her complexion along with fine lines. Suzanne felt that she wasn’t at a stage where she wanted to try Botox ® or fillers so was intrigued
Before treatment
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by other options available. This is why Springwell suggested Kleresca. Springwell was one of the first clinics in the UK to showcase this treatment that came over from Australia and given the results that patients are achieving they haven’t looked back since. The Kleresca Skin rejuvenation treatment is a course of four carried out in weekly intervals over a four week period. The treatment comprises of a gel being applied to the skin followed by 9 minutes of exposure under a fluorescent lamp (no harmful rays). After Suzanne’s first treatment she noticed her skin was slightly red and flushed. This went down shortly after and she remarked how her skin appeared firmer and brighter. Week 2. The redness after the 2nd treatment was less than the first. Also post second treatment Suzanne began to notice a slight reduction in pore size along with a rapidly increasing brightness in her complexion.
Treatment in progress
Week 3. Seemed not much further a progression than the treatment before other than Suzanne had noticed people remarking how much fresher she looked. Week 4. The final treatment. This is where the results seemed to become more evident. Skin was appearing far brighter, it was apparent that pore size had decreased and the skin had started to look far more naturally plumped, rejuvenated and youthful. As if that wasn’t enough the beauty of Kleresca and the science behind it means this is a treatment that keeps on giving. So optimum results won’t be seen up until 8 weeks after treatment. Re enter Suzanne at 8 weeks and she is overjoyed with the results. Her skin is visibly glowing and radiant. There is obvious lift to the cheeks with fine lines and pore size dramatically reduced. Comments she says on how refreshed she looks have been frequent. “People can’t quite put their finger on what’s different” she says. “Which is exactly what I was looking for, I can’t thank Springwell enough for their help and advice, also sticking to my wishes, I am left feeling more confident and looking better with a treatment I wanted rather than being talked into having lots of things I didn’t want. Which believe me can happen in a lot of places.” Kleresca can be used alongside other treatments, it also has different formulations that specialise in treating rosacea and acne,
Treatment in progress
Suzanne, eight weeks after initial treatment
KLERESCA ROSACEA TREATMENT Fluorescent light energy is used to stimulate the skin’s own repair mechanisms. This treatment reduces inflammation, erythema, blushing and reduces the overall stress level of the skin and so reduces the feeling of burning and stinging. Kleresca Rosacea induces a healing response improving the overall skin quality. This treatment is carried out once per week over a 4 week period. KLERESCA ACNE TREATMENT This multi action treatment works by not only addressing several factors responsible for causing acne but also by reducing the signs of scarring. It kills the bacteria responsible for acne P. acnes. This treatment reduces inflammation by normalising cellular activity and reducing signs of scarring by increasing the build-up of collagen. This is a course of treatments to be carried out twice weekly for 6 weeks. Results will last for 6-12 months. This treatment can be performed on the back and chest as well as the face.
These treatments are proving to be extremely popular across the board for both men and women with their varied skin requirements and concerns. The other fantastic thing about Kleresca is that you are able to be treated all year round. It isn’t sun Sensitive as some laser treatments can be. So don’t hesitate and book your complimentary consultation. Upon quoting **Thame Out Kleresca100** receive a discount of £100 when booking a course of treatment! Springwell clinic was established over three years ago in Marlow. All their aesthetic treatments are carried out by Medically trained Nurses who collectively have over 25 years experience. We can’t emphasise enough the importance of researching your practitioner. To ensure optimum work and results an Experienced Aesthetic Practitioner is always best to carry out your treatments. (Put your trust in the best. )
Contact Springwell Clinic and quote ‘Thame Out Kleresca100’ to receive a discount of £100 when booking a course of treatment!
Springwell Clinic 10-12 Oxford Rd, Marlow SL7 2NL 01628 308060 hello@springwellclinic.co.uk www.springwellclinic.co.uk
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> HEALTH & BEAUTY
A new school of September is the new January says Sandra Brooks from DROPiT21.
S
eptember is definitely a time when people are prone to making changes, it’s almost as if our school days have been programmed into our DNA and that the ‘new school year’ is the trigger for all things new and improved. Remember those day of the new pencil case, geometry set and fountain pen?! (In fact, you’ve probably just been out and purchased a new pencil case for your children and been suitably stung with an astronomically priced one!) Did you know that research shows that 30% of people who have changed jobs
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in the past three years did it in September, with more people retraining (53%) or taking up a new hobby (22%) in this month than at any other time in the year. It’s also the second most common month for starting a relationship, buying a new car, and starting saving money. In a survey that asked people about the goals they set at the start of 2018 and whether they’d achieved them, the biggest were a combination of health targets and lifestyle aims. Top was ‘losing weight’, which almost four in ten people said, with ‘getting fitter’ another high-ranking general aim.
However, over eight in ten said they were still working on it. Which isn’t really leaving much time as we are just entering the fourth quarter of the year! Does this ring true with you too? Is it time to make those changes you’ve promised yourself for a while? So many people focus on getting themselves a ‘Beach Body’ in the summer, but now with Summer coming to a close, don’t leave it until next year. Surely, we should all be concentrating on getting a ‘Body for Life’ .... remember it’s the only one you have!!
thought EMBRACE THE FEELING OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES My theory is that September should be the new January, along the lines of a new year, fresh beginnings and goal setting. Basically, embracing the new energy of being back at school and the feeling of being able to hit the reset button on everything. The end of summer signals a start to cooler temperatures, a perfect time to start a new training regime, without having to negotiate the crowds of people in January. It’s a perfect time to reflect over the past 8 months of the year and to figure out what you really want to achieve by the end of
2018. If you compare yourself to where you were in January, probably feeling bloated and hungover emotionally and financially, September really looks like a good time to start again. THE TIMING IS RIGHT You’ll be able to go at your own pace without being subjected to pressure from your family, friends or media. You do not have to contend with the hype of “being good” or being bombarded by numerous things you should be doing. Your routine over the summer may have become slightly disjointed but
September means the return of your old routine, holidays are over, there are less and less excuses to hide behind. It’s a great time to knuckle down. So this September, I would love to give you every single tool you’ll need to make the last few months of this year, your best yet. All those tools are contained within the DROPiT21 Programme. Even better that we are offering a FREE maintenance month with EVERY programme, which means 7 weeks of support for the same price as 3 weeks! Here’s the link you’re looking for: www.dropit21.com You probably don’t need a new pencil case so why not spend money on yourself in a different way?! SEPTEMBER IS THE NEW JANUARY
For Further details of DROPiT21 please contact Sandra on 07771 800913 or email sandra@dropit21.com Web: www.dropit21.com Twitter: @LetsDropit21
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> HEALTH & BEAUTY
Famed for his
frames
Customised spectacle frames that suit your face and match your personality. British spectacle designer, Tom Davies has revolutionised eyewear. TD Tom Davies is the type of brand that’s the perfect fit for Ivan Cammack Optometrists. Stuart Rogers explains more.
E
very face is different. ‘Off the peg’ spectacle frames simply don’t consider the symmetry of a face, all its subtle contours, the shape and size of the nose, the position of the ears and so on. Right from the very beginning of his career, designer Tom Davies identified a need to offer clients a better solution for well fitting spectacles that looked good and felt comfortable. He saw many massproduced frames in his first years in the business, and realised that standardised shapes and measurements always led to a compromise of some sort. The solution (like all great ideas) was revolutionary, yet simple. In 2008, Tom established his company – TD Tom Davies. He wanted to design and hand make bespoke frames. Designed to suit a person’s face, fit their individual measurements exactly, match their colouring and reflect their personality and lifestyle. The finest frames deserve the finest lenses and the best Opticians. This is where Ivan R Cammack enter the frame – so to speak. Ivan R Cammack share a similar ethos to TD Tom Davies. Quality of materials, expertise and service are paramount. Outside of the handful of TD Tom Davies outlets in London, TD Tom Davies is resold by a seriously exclusive network of Opticians. Ivan R Cammack’s Practice Manager, Ben Ostridge is proud that Ivan R Cammack are one of this exclusive number of trusted and respected optometrists. He’s also a huge fan. “The pair of glasses I’m wearing are by TD Tom Davies, they fit perfectly, are supremely comfortable
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and friends and family tell me they suit me perfectly”, he says. “We have many satisfied customers that all say the same about their TD Tom Davies frames”, he adds. A Bespoke design consultation starts with getting to know the client. What is their personality like? What do they do for a living? Do they have any issues with their current frames? Perhaps the glasses slip down their nose, or maybe the client finds they are too tight. It could be that the bridge fit is not quite right, or that their frames fail to enhance their natural features. Ivan R Cammack then takes a series of measurements and photos which are sent to the TD design studio where the eyewear is designed before it is submitted to be made at the TD workshop. TD Tom Davies produces all of its own frames so that every step of the process can be carefully controlled.
This ensures flawless quality, excellent craftsmanship and a very happy client. A nice touch is all Bespoke frames are finished with the name of the client engraved discreetly on the inside of the temple arm. As you would expect, TD Tom Davies only use high quality materials. Titanium from Japan and ‘Natural Horn’ a unique material that is even thinner than Acetate. Natural Horn is gentle on the skin and allergy free. Bespoke frames are never discontinued so if your prescription changes, your individually designed frame details are saved forever.
As the sun streams into Ivan R Cammack in Thame, Ben reminds me there is a superb range of TD Tom Davies sunglasses now available as well. The TD Tom Davies ‘couture’ approach to eyewear has attracted clients such as Brad Pitt and Kristen Stewart. He recently designed glasses for Superman. Actor Henry Cavill wore them for his role as Clark Kent. TD Tom Davies and Ivan R Cammack are the perfect fit. Why not call into Ivan R Cammack in Thame, Chinnor or Wendover for a Bespoke consultation. They would love to make you the perfect pair of specs! You’ll be in safe hands and good company.
Ivan R Cammack (Thame) T. 01844 212048 E. info@ivancammack.com Chinnor (01844) 351564 Wendover (01296) 625892
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> HEALTH & BEAUTY
Look after yourself during the menopause says Chinnor based personal fitness trainer, Hilary Westall.
The ‘change in life’
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et’s cut through the taboos here – menopause is something that nearly all women will go through in their later years, and it can have a huge effect on physical and mental wellbeing. Yet it’s still not that widely acknowledged or discussed so I’ve decided to put it out there! And before all you men switch off and turn the page, do read on as many of you will have partners who are going through or will go through this, and will need your support and understanding if the going gets tough. When a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally, she is menopausal. Every woman’s experience is different, but as a general rule, periods become less frequent over a few months or years, before they stop altogether. Sometimes they can stop suddenly. This process commonly occurs between 45 and 55 years of age as oestrogen levels begin to drop. Most women will experience some symptoms such as hot flushes, low mood, anxiety, night sweats, weight gain, a reduced sex drive, fatigue and difficulty sleeping. Sounds like a bundle of laughs right? Well, the good news is that those of you who do regular exercise are likely to weather the menopause storm better than your couch-bound sisters. The bad news is that this ‘change of life’ doesn’t just affect your mood, sleep and sex life; it can also have a negative effect on your athletic performance. Combine menopause with other age-related decline, and you find your body is a different machine from the one that glided effortlessly and painlessly through your 20’s and 30’s. You might still be an athlete or just a normal regular exerciser – but whatever your level and ability, you’ll probably have to accept a new normal. And if you don’t already do regular exercise, it’s never too late to start and can really help combat some of the symptoms and long term effects of the menopause. DECLINING OESTROGEN LEVELS: Falling oestrogen levels puts you at greater risk of osteoporosis. If you’re a seasoned athlete, your bones are probably already strong and you have
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good lean muscle mass. But if you’re new to exercise, you can build stronger bones, lose fat mass and improve your muscle tone. SLEEP QUALITY SUFFERS: A large percentage of post-menopausal women suffer from insomnia symptoms. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone help you fall and stay asleep, so when oestrogen levels drop, so does your ability to sleep as well. Melatonin levels also decline, which regulate body temperature for sleep. Hot flushes and night sweats can disrupt sleep, as can the stress hormone cortisol, which oestrogen helps control. Physically active people, however, have better sleep patterns. And exercising early in the day promotes better sleep so if sleep is a problem, try getting your exercise in first thing. A SLOWER ENGINE: Aerobic capacity, which is your cardiovascular system’s ability to convert oxygen to energy, can drop 5 to 9 per cent each decade starting in your 30’s (this also happens to men). As a result, oxygen-rich blood is being pumped to working muscles less often. Aerobic capacity is improved through regular exercise, and athletes of all ages have a better aerobic capacity than people who don’t exercise. HANDLING THE HEAT: During hot flushes, or whenever the body starts to get too warm, blood rushes to the skin surface to offload heat, instead of feeding working muscles. Your thirst mechanism also dulls with age so dehydration is more likely so try to keep drinking before, during and after a workout, even if you don’t feel thirsty. For the majority of women, hot flushes will go away – eventually! MENOPAUSE WAISTLINE (OR ‘MENOPOT’): Older women aren’t as efficient at processing carbohydrates, so they tend to store the excess as fat. And instead of storing fat in their hips and thighs as they did when they were younger, it heads for the waistline. This visceral fat is associated with a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes, but making regular exercise and a healthy diet part of your lifestyle can offset this effect. Unfortunately, many people become less active and consume more
calories as they get older, when in reality it should be the reverse. It might mean a few more sacrifices and a bit more work than it did in your 20’s, but it’s surely worth it for the health and wellbeing benefits? BONES GET THINNER: Oestrogen works with calcium and vitamin D to strengthen bones, but in the five to seven years after menopause, a woman’s bones can lose up to 20 per cent of their density. Weight-bearing activity (walking, running, racket sports) puts stress on bones which causes them to strengthen. Regular strength training and a diet rich in bone building nutrients such as fish and yogurt can keep key areas like the hips and spine, in optimum condition. MUSCLES SHRINK: Testosterone and other grown hormones decline along with oestrogen, which makes building and maintaining muscle harder – but not impossible. Exercise and a proteinrich diet will help build and maintain muscle, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn, even at rest. LOSING YOUR MOJO: Fluctuating oestrogen levels can make you irritable, edgy and even at risk of depression until brain chemistry stabilises after menopause. ‘Brain fog’ can make it harder to concentrate and remember things, and poor sleep can exacerbate this. Exercise is a wellknown stress reliever and mood booster, and research has found that people who exercise are better at dealing with the ups and downs of menopause and ageing. Menopause is an important and sometimes prolonged transition in a woman’s life. Use it as a reminder to take good care of yourself. Hilary is a Level 3 Pilates teacher and Personal Trainer. Contact her on 07812 097562, or email: hilarywestall@gmail.com for further details. Win a FREE b COMPETITION one-to-one workout. See page 66.
10% OFF for Thame Out readers. Please enter code: THAMEOUT
FREE maintenance month included with ALL programme. This means 7 weeks’ support for the price of 3.
£59
PER PERSON
Justin Alexander Designer Weekend
22nd & 23rd September 10% OFF
24 Upper High Street, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3EX 01844 214190 anna@anna-mcdonald.com
TIME TO GET SERIOUS 01844 873140 at Avenna Therapy, Health and Fitness
avennathf
avennathf w avennathf.com
32A Wornal Park, Menmarsh Road, Worminghall, HP18 9PH
Well what a summer! We drank in the sun, we danced into the night, we nearly made a World Cup final (GASP) and we enjoyed the best a British summertime could possibly offer us ... but now as the nights draw in, it’s time to get serious!!! As the clothes get chunkier and those lily-white legs disappear for another year, we can sometimes relax our regimes a little, knowing that December party dress panic will be here before you can say “Jingle Bells”. Here at Avenna we have a few ideas to help keep you on track to be top of your game this Autumn. Our Laser Lipolysis treatment has been a huge hit with our clients. Working on those hard to hit areas, clients have reported losing a whole dress size in just 3 sessions! A course of 8 has achieved some amazing results: 2 dress sizes lost, double chins reduced, thighs smaller and those pesky bingo wings are not quite so wobbly. Combining this with our Wednesday night Bootcamp or an Equipment Pilates class, can ensure that you tone your body as the fat just melts away. Some people think that Pilates is not strenuous enough to give a proper workout. If that is the case, why do elite athletes and sports professionals swear by Pilates training? Famous devotees include tennis ace Andy Murray, our England football team & golfpro Tiger Woods... We dare you to give it a try! It’s also that time where the cold weather brings on our old aches and pains. Our joints get a little stiffer, colds won’t shift and the only thing that’s doing any running outside is our noses. Applied Kinesiology can actually test our body’s deficiencies to help give you a boost this coming winter time. It is also great for hormonal problems, stress related issues, food intolerances and to help you find out the root cause of your pain. AK looks to the actual cause of your issues, to try and eradicate them forever! Surgical scars surprisingly, can also often be causing some of our problems. We try to forget the pulling across our chest from our mastectomy or heart surgery, or the lower back pain that magically
appeared after a caesarean. Aswell as sometimes looking unsightly, scars can restrict mobility and organ function and create pain. We think that we simply have to put up with whatever scars we are left with after surgery or an accident. That’s not always the case. ScarWork is a gentle approach, using the lightest of touches to help reduce the sticking and pain left by scarring. It can also improve the appearance of the scar. This is not simply vanity, scars can be debilitating. ScarWork has only been available in the UK since 2014 and there are only approximately 200 people qualified across the country! Our founder and director Kelly Langmaid has travelled the world with this revolutionary scar treatment and we are proud to offer it at Avenna THF. Whether you want to lose weight, find the root cause of your pain, energise and de-stress- Why not pop in for a FREE ASSESSMENT and have a chat to see how we can help you?
> HEALTH & BEAUTY
Cosmetic Courses. Buckinghamshire’s best kept secret, high quality non-surgical treatments at a fraction of the cost.
Feel great for less C
osmetic Courses has been providing award-winning aesthetic training for medical professionals such as doctors, dentists and nurses in a wide range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments since 2002, spearheaded by renowned plastic surgeon Mr Adrian Richards. We are dedicated to making the aesthetic industry a safer place by leading an example in our training. In order for our delegates to learn the practical aspects of the treatments, we require cosmetic models that are happy to have the treatments administrated in a training environment for a significantly lower price than high street clinics. The treatments are carried out by our delegates under the watchful eye and supervision of our fully qualified, highly skilled and experienced aesthetic trainers. Cosmetic Courses lives by the ethos experience, quality & success, which runs through the heart of our teaching and reflects on to our models journey with us from consultation to aftercare. Our passion for the exciting world of aesthetics has created an extensive community of like-minded individuals receiving non-surgical treatments with us. BENEFITS OF BEING A COSMETIC COURSES MODEL l Ability to have non-surgical treatments at a largely discounted price. Treatments start at £70 l All treatments are carried out in our state of the art training clinics within a friendly and safe environment over 5 locations including Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, London and our national training centre in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire l Bespoke treatment plans & consultations from our expert trainers l No compromise on quality of treatment, we are proud to use genuine Allergan Botox® and Juvederm dermal filler l Every question answered, we understand you are making a big decision that’s why we leave no stone unturned when it comes to answering your questions
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Before and after of Non-Surgical Facelift
Before and after of lip fillers
Mr Adrian Richards (Clinical Director of Cosmetic Courses)
TREATMENTS AVAILABLE l Anti-wrinkle Injections l Dermal Fillers l Injectable Skincare l PDO Threads l Tear Trough Rejuvenation l Leg Thread Vein Removal l Dermaroller l Chemical Peel l Non-Surgical Facelift l Non-Surgical Nose Job l Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy l Hyperhidrosis
Our models love coming to us and provide us with fantastic positive feedback about our service, the treatments they receive and our supportive community. “I was very nervous as this is the first time I have had any treatments like this. But the staff were very friendly and reassuring, putting me completely at ease. Every query I put to them was answered thoroughly and kindly. The treatment
was done gently and compassionately, and everything was explained every step of the way. I can see an improvement immediately. I would highly recommend coming here. Thank you to all the staff for your kindness.” “I would highly recommend going here for treatments. I was treated with kindness and gentleness. The delegate who did my treatment was very professional and well supervised by the trainer throughout the whole experience. I walked out feeling so much more confident in myself and looking forward to going again. If you would like treatment and want it at an affordable price being a model is an excellent option as you get treated just the same as paying full price” OUR MODEL SATISFACTION RESULTS l How would you rate the care you received from your trainer? 9.3/10 l How would you rate the results of the treatment/s you’ve had with us? 8.5/10
l How you would rate the quality of your
customer service experience? 9.1/10 l 82% of our models return for more than one treatment l 78% of our models refer us to a friend INTERESTED? If you are interested in becoming a model we would love to hear from you, please contact our dedicated support team: ask@cosmeticcourses.co.uk or call 01844 390110. You can also visit our website www.cosmeticcourses.co.uk to learn more about being a model with us.
Cosmetic Courses Princes Risborough 01844 390110 ask@cosmeticcourses.co.uk www.cosmeticcourses.co.uk
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> HEALTH & BEAUTY
Your questions on health, fitness and wellbeing answered. Email: askkelly@avennathf.com
Q. Do I need to count calories? A. This may be the most common question I’m asked. And, in some ways, it’s the most difficult to answer. After all, weight management is a pretty simple equation. Eat more calories than you burn, and you gain weight. Eat fewer calories than you burn, and you lose weight. Except counting calories isn’t that simple. And human brains aren’t food calculation machines. For one thing, calorie counting is imprecise. Calorie counts on food labels and within food databases are often as much as 25% off. So “calories in” is hard to get right. Also, calorie expenditure estimates when you use tables and cardio equipment readouts are also as much as 25% off. So “calories out” is also hard to measure accurately. In the end, long-term success relies on you developing, and using, your own inborn signalling systems. Besides, it’s annoying to weigh, measure, and count all your food. Especially when there’s an easier way. I recommend beginning with hand-size portion estimating instead. Here’s how it works: g Your palm determines your protein portions. g Your fist determines your veggie portions. g Your cupped hand determines your carb portions. g Your thumb determines your fat portions. This system counts your calories for you, and gets your macronutrients lined up too, without having to do any fancy kitchen math. Plus, your hands are portable—they go wherever you go, making portion-sizing very convenient. Q: What are the biggest mistakes people make at the gym? A: In my experience the biggest mistake is not understanding how to use the equipment correctly. They perform exercises improperly and end up injuring themselves. We get embarrassed and daren’t ask for help or guidance and then end up damaging ourselves in some way. Whenever I’m teaching Personal training master classes to other Personal Trainers, I always say there is no such thing as a stupid question. The only stupid thing is not actually asking the question in the first place. You don’t know what you don’t know. So, don’t be afraid to ask a professional how to use the equipment and if you can afford to, get yourself a Personal Trainer. They keep you motivated, they select exercises and plans specific for you and guess what ... you don’t need to already be fit to have a PT, it’s their job to get you there! Kelly Langmaid has been a prominent global figure in the therapy, health and fitness industry for over 17 years. Your questions on health, fitness and wellbeing answered. Just email askkellyl@yahoo.com Any action you take on the information given is strictly at your own risk. Always consult your GP
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JAQUI SUPPLE COUNSELLING If you are feeling sad, confused, worried, depressed, anxious, lonely or just overwhelmed, I can help. Whatever issue is troubling you, why not get in touch and we can find a solution together.
I am a qualified integrative therapist offering a flexible service tailored to your needs and requirements. www.jaquisupplecounselling.co.uk jaquisupple@gmail.com 07977904067 www.facebook.com/jaquisupplecounselling
AT IVAN R CAMMACK
TD Tom Davies is a prestigious handcrafted eyewear brand that offers unrivalled attention to design detail. A bespoke service and available on every frame in all of our collections, adapting each to suit our customers’ requirements and individual style. Our bespoke consultation process begins with a discussion of personal tastes and preferences, enabling us to select the perfect frames. We then take a series of precise measurements. These are submitted to the TD design studio. The Bespoke eyewear blueprint is then submitted to our workshop. We produce all our frames by hand, meticulously and to the highest standards. Our master craftspeople spend between 16 and 22 hours creating, assembling, honing and polishing each Bespoke frame to ensure a flawless finish. Utterly unique, each pair of Tom Davies Bespoke glasses bears the customer’s name, engraved discreetly on the inside of the temple arm. To discuss a Bespoke consultation contact Ivan R Cammack in Thame, Chinnor or Wendover
Thame 212048
Chinnor 351564
Wendover 625892
info@ivancammack.com
> TRAVEL
It may not be the first destination you think of for a holiday, but Vietnam has so much to offer. Spear Travels recommend just seven of the best places to visit in this fascinating country.
Southeast Asia’s surprise destination
Ho Chi Minh City
V
ietnam is an astonishing mix of natural scenery and cultural diversity. From jagged mountain peaks to lush paddy fields, there is stunning scenery at every turn. Hikers, bikers, and outdoor lovers can get their teeth into the countryside thanks to a variety of national parks, while the spectacular seascape of Halong Bay is a natural sight that everyone should experience on a relaxing cruise. The big cities showcase a contemporary lifestyle, providing plenty of opportunity to get stuck into Vietnam’s tasty culinary highlights. This fascinating country is full of surprises and is one of Southeast Asia’s most underrated destinations with a new adventure at every turn. Here are the highlights of what we consider to be the must-see destinations of Vietnam. HALONG BAY With 1,600 limestone towers rising from its turquoise waters, Halong Bay is considered one of Vietnam’s most spellbinding sea views and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the bay’s scenery best seen by boat, this is prime cruising territory and it is best to opt for at least an overnight tour as seeing Halong Bay’s iconic views on a day trip just doesn’t do it justice.
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Nha Trang
Hanoi
Hue
Mekong River
HO CHI MINH CITY No visit to Vietnam is really complete without a visit to Ho Chi Minh City, the buzzing and crazy commercial hub of the country. The streets are an insane clog of motorbikes and cars, the restaurant and cafe scene is incredibly cosmopolitan, and the shopping is the best you’ll find in the country. History fans will also relish the History Museum with stacks of relics on display from various archaeological sites. HANOI If you want to dive into Vietnamese city life, Hanoi is the place to do it. Vietnam’s capital is the frenetic heartbeat of the nation. The old town quarter has plenty of charm on offer, while history fans will be delighted by the selection of excellent museums. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Vietnam Fine Art Museum are both brilliant introductions to the diverse artistry of the country, while the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is an important tribute to the founder of modern Vietnam. HUE Halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, Hue marked the divide between the north and the south during the Vietnam War. Set upon the pretty Perfume River, it has always played an important part in Vietnamese history and is dotted with
Hoi An
Halong Bay
important historical sites. It is also a great place to cycle. Set off in the cool of the morning and head to Tu Duc Tomb before reaching Vong Canh Hill – the best spot for panoramic views of the Perfume River. HOI AN Every Tết (Vietnamese New Year), Hoi An is transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour and light for its Lantern Festival. The celebration lasts for seven days, with the road from Hoi An Bridge to the Hoai River Square decorated with thousands of colourful lanterns. Over 50 workshops take part in the event, each trying to create the prettiest lantern. The most breath-taking sight is thousands of lanterns floating on the river; hire a sampan boat to get a closer look. For a small sum, you can buy a lantern and set it afloat too. NHA TRANG For beach fun in Vietnam, Nha Trang is king. The well-maintained beach rolls on for six kilometres along the shoreline of central Nha Trang city and during summer is jam-packed with local families as well as foreign visitors. If you get bored of sunbathing, the ancient Po Nagar Cham Towers are just to the north across the Xom Bong Bridge and have been used as a place of worship since at least the 7th century.
MEKONG DELTA The far south of Vietnam is where the mighty Mekong River finally finds its way to the sea. Incredibly lush, with paddy fields and mangroves, and full of local life, with chaotic floating markets to explore by boat. The delta is one of the most interesting regions for travellers to discover. Hitch a ride with a cargo boat, take it easy and soak up the view as you gaze at faraway riverbanks. Ready to discover Vietnam for yourself? Talk to the experts at Spear Travels.
Spear Travels Greyhound Walk, Thame, Oxon OX9 3DY 01844 217228 thame@speartravels.net www.speartravels.net speartravels-thame @speartravels
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> LIFESTYLE
High St Sadly, the High Street is suffering. Economic uncertainty and the increased amount of online shoppers are taking their toll. But its not all doom and gloom as Karen Dale discovers with a visit to White Hart Studio.
I
t’s especially tough for those heroic souls who own independent outlets. The good news however is that some business’s are bucking the trend. White Hart Studio in Haddenham for example has seen an increase in sales over the last year. So what does owner Jane Davies believe is the secret of her success? “Hard work and fantastic support from my team,” she says. Jane searches far and wide for decorative items for the home and garden, furniture, jewellery and clothing from imaginative designers at affordable prices. She is forever visiting trade shows in London, Birmingham and this September she will be searching for those special items at ‘Maison de Objet’ in Paris. I would also add her fabulous assistants are another reason customers are walking through the door. From September there will be a new addition to the team. Jessica Smith who also created the wonderful illustration of the shop featured in Jane’s advert. @jessicasmithillustration.com . She will work alongside Jane and Sue on Thursday and Friday. Jessica is a very exciting addition to White Hart Studio. “I know her talents will be put to good use, I’m already thinking about an illustrated window,” enthuses Jane. The great thing about White Hart Studio is nothing stays the same for long. Jane is forever altering the shop interior and introducing new items to the shelves and hangers. To see what has recently arrived, you can see a daily post on Instagram and Facebook. Simply follow her page and she will give you any feedback you require. Prices, sizes, extra photo’s of the item for example . “I feel the daily stories give my customers a chance to see what’s new, especially when they are at work or home. Many customers reserve items until they are able to visit the shop.” says Jane. I’m sure another reason for her success is this customer care. From September for example, customers can help themselves to free refreshments. It’s something Jane has wanted to do for quite a while as many of them travel long distances. It’s just a small way to say thank you for their continued loyalty. Jane will post on social media and in the shop the day it will start. High Street blues? Not in Churchway, Haddenham.
WHITE HART STUDIO
WHITE HART STUDIO
JEWELLERY,GIFTS G IFTS& &INTERIORS INTERIORS FAFASHION, S H I ON, JEWELLERY, HADDENHAM, 1 5 15 C HCHURCHWAY, U R C HWAY, HADDENHA M, BBUCKS U C KS, HP17 HP17 8AB 8 AB T: 0T:1 01844 8 4 4 2 9292308 2 3 0 8 M: 36630 8 M: 07765 07765 366308 E: JANE@WHITEHARTSTUDIO.COM E: JANE@WHITEHARTSTUDIO.COM
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blues?
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> LIFESTYLE
S
Samantha Stonehouse interviews new mum and founder of Dot Dash Activewear Nicole Clewer, a true force to be reckoned with. Find out when she got her lightbulb moment and how she brilliantly balances being a fabulous Mummy to baby Jago whilst dressing the likes of Jasmine Hemsley, Deliciously Ella and Lisa Snowdon to name but a few.
Active mum
erena Williams’s heartfelt statement and interview moved many this year at Wimbledon when she lost the Wimbledon title. It wasn’t the fact that she was playing professional tennis less than a year after having a baby and having gone through major complications which lead to surgery, it was her incredibly touching words. When Sue Barker said “There are Mums everywhere that are saying how has she done this? You are super-human-super Mum. Serena replied “No I am just me, and that’s all I can be. For all the Mums out there, I was playing for you today and I tried.” As a mother we all have a job and work in different ways, whether we’re at home looking after children and supporting our partners or work one day a week or five days a week. Its tough. Life is busy, we have to play many roles, we juggle and run from one thing to the next. Returning to work after you have had a baby is hard, it is a big adjustment. I think it is fair to say your organisational and multi-tasking skills become something of a super-power, but we just get on with it. After being a personal trainer and an ambassador for a renowned fitness brand, Nicole Clewer decided to take the plunge and become an ambassador of her own brand, Dot Dash Activewear. Nicole founded Dot Dash in 2017 when she was 8-weeks pregnant as she wanted to offer a flexible lifestyle for herself and her son Jago. Since having her son, Dot Dash Activewear has been featured in Women’s Health under ‘Editors Top Picks’, is stocked in Champneys Spas and more locally, That Lovely stuff in Watlington as well as available online. Nicole Clewer gives her very own trials and tribulations of a working mother. When did you get your light bulb moment? I got my lightbulb moment a few days after I found out I was pregnant, it took me a few days to get over the initial shock and excitement! but I instantly knew I wanted to provide a flexible lifestyle for myself and my baby.
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Nicole with Jago
Describe your day-to-day work routine with Jago Goodness, where do I start. Jago tends to wake at around 6:30am and my husband doesn’t leave for work until 8am so I usually fit my exercise in at this time, whether it’s a run, gym or spin class. That said, there are plenty of times I turn the alarm off and roll over back to sleep. From 8am I tend to have a little play then he’s tired again and needs another sleep. I use that time to open the laptop and start work, this is my power-hour and its almost certainly Jago’s longest daytime nap. Once
he wakes from this nap, I get him ready for the day and we go for a walk to our local coffee shop, in this time I can also fit in a phone call or two. After our morning coffee, it varies. Sometimes I have a meeting and Jago will come with me and other days I choose to rarely look at my work phone and have a day cuddling and playing. Calum gets home around 5:30pm and this is pretty much my time to work but we always do bath time together which is nice. I like to think I have a good balance.
As a new business owner, often it is hard to switch off from work. How do you divide your time between growing the business, being a Mum and chilling out? I admit that I actually find this quite hard! I do believe routine is key with this though, so I try and have set hours or days that I dedicate to the business. I have a separate work and personal phone so I’m not still emailing at midnight, but sometimes this doesn’t happen if I’m super busy. I accept that this is part of owning a business. What advice can you give to other Mums who want to start their own business. Go for it! Your child will be your biggest motivation! What are your top three health and fitness tips for busy, working Mums? 1 - Try and find time for yourself, even if its just 15 or 20 minutes to go for a walk or a jog. 2 – Try and plan as much as you can when it comes to meals. Your days are busy, and it is easy to snack, it is important to have a proper, healthy meal – as a family if you can. 3 – Stay hydrated (and I don’t mean just coffee) ha! Water is key, always have a bottle of water on the go.
What has been the toughest challenge so far in your business journey? My toughest challenge was finding a manufacturer in Portugal that I could rely on, trust and communicate with effectively. When you choose a manufacturer in another country its imperative that you build a relationship early on, regular Skype calls are essential. Do you have any regrets? No, I don’t have any regrets, I just learn from my mistakes.
What has been your proudest moment so far in your business? Winning £3,000 from Oxford Brookes/ Santander for their enterprise awards. I was 5 days overdue, very nervous, slightly nauseous and I still managed to do well. Does your husband play a key role in helping you with Jago so that you can work? Absolutely! He really is my rock, he encouraged me to start Dot dash Activewear and has stood by me ever since! He believes in the brand as much as I do and this is crucial. Who or what has been your greatest influence in business and why? Ben Francis, Founder of Gym Shark. It’s crazy to think that he started the business just 6 years ago from his bedroom aged just 19 and its now one of the UK’s fastest growing companies. A success that I aspire to achieve. dotdashactivewear.co.uk Between juggling her business and looking after two children, Sam believes parenthood and business can exist side by side, without sacrificing the quality of each other. Above all, she is truly inspired with all Mums that have their magic balance of work and motherhood.
> LIFESTYLE
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> HOME & GARDEN
Seasoned professionals I
’m talking to Matt Vaughan, Managing Director of Four Seasons Tree Care, and it’s clear he is passionate about his work and proud of his business. Operating for over 25 years, Four Seasons Tree Care now employs a core team of five full time arborists. “I’m extremely proud of the team we have assembled,” says Matt. They are all excellent at their job, all college trained in arboriculture and share my passion for the work that we do. They are also friends as well as work colleagues,” he adds. Four Seasons Tree Care are specialists in all aspects of tree work. “Our work is varied and interesting. We have worked on some of Oxfordshire’s largest, oldest and rarest trees on private estates, Oxford college grounds, parkland and gardens. The team are often tasked with the careful removal of large trees from welltended gardens, says Matt. ‘ ’We have a wealth of experience and specialist machinery to tackle these jobs safely and efficiently,” he adds. The team also prune and shape trees of every variety to better suit their environment. This might be smaller ornamental species in a modest garden or larger parkland trees where public safety is a primary concern. ‘’But its not all about tree surgery and felling’’ says Matt. ‘’We also supply and plant a range of beautiful specimen trees and hedges. It feels good to be planting new trees for the next generation to enjoy.’’ From a background in conservation and country parks, Matt moved into the arboricultural industry in 1987 to become a professional tree surgeon. The hurricane of October 1987 which
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Based in (the aptly named) Beech Road, Thame. Four Seasons Tree Care have been looking after our trees and hedges for over 25 years. Chris Dale met owner Matt Vaughan.
devastated much of the south hit the UK in October of that same year. Matt reflects “This event presented plenty of challenges and a very steep learning curve for a young tree surgeon!’’ In 1993 Matt won the Arboricultural Association Top Student Award whilst studying arboriculture at the renowned Merrist Wood College. Matt continues to feed his passion for trees, keeping abreast of current research and developments through regular attendance at workshops, seminars and lectures. As for the supporting team at Four Seasons Tree Care, there can be no doubt of their skills and competence. In 2010, the company was awarded Approved Contractor status from the Arboricultural Association. This involved going through a rigorous inspection looking closely at all aspects of the company’s performance. They were assessed on their customer care
and administration, quality and standards of work, health & safety and staff training. The Approved Contractor scheme also requires a broad knowledge of pests and diseases, the law around Tree Preservation Orders and planning and other relevant topics. The company is re-assessed regularly to ensure that the high standards are maintained. Matt is rightly proud of this Approved Contractor status as it sets his company apart from the many other tree work companies in the area. “We want our customers to understand that we are a company that will go the extra mile to ensure that we provide a great service. To that end we are also approved by the Which? consumer organisation and the government backed Trusted Trader scheme. The company carries further endorements under the CHAS and Safe Contractor schemes too,” says Matt.
Even more important to him, and all the team, is the excellent customer feedback. The arborist team understand that client satisfaction begins with respect for the client’s priorities and preferences. A love of the job and a desire to be the best drives Matt on. Not resting on its laurels, Four Seasons Tree Care have just gone through a re-branding. “We are a thoroughly professional company, aspiring to be the best, and we want to look the part,” says Matt. “With more than a few tree companies working out there, it can be hard for the client to see the wood for the trees!” So, he reasons, why look beyond Four Seasons Tree Care?
Four Seasons Tree Care Limited 1 Beech Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2AL T: 01844 218222 M: 07973 507876 E: mail@4seasonstreecare.co.uk
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> HOME & GARDEN
Locally supplied logs from Pasture Care that won’t burn a hole in your pocket
Logs to burn I
n recent years, the wood-burning stove has become the hottest addition to the home. Open fires with the heat escaping up the chimney have fallen from favour. Not surprising as a wood burner gives out five times as much heat as a regular fireplace and heats a far bigger part of the house. As a result, the demand for logs to fuel these stoves has never been greater. So with winter approaching, who best to turn to? Introducing Pasture Care. Established 20 years ago by Kevin Smith and based near Towersey, Pasture Care is an agricultural and equestrian contractor with skill and knowledge in all aspects of farm and field management. Services range from small-scale paddock maintenance to whole farm contracting, covering all aspects of estate management. Pasture Care takes the utmost pride in providing the best quality service to their clients. However the logs they supply are proving particularly popular. The reason is simple. Excellent quality logs (both softwood and hardwood) sourced locally – most logs come from suppliers based abroad or at best Scotland – at very reasonable prices. Their bags of softwood logs are fully seasoned. Softwood is not as long burning as hardwood however it burns easier and hotter. Most of the softwood comes from trees that Pasture Care have coppiced and are fully sustainable. Ideal for wood burning stoves or outdoor appliances, but not recommend for use on open fires due to the possibility of the wood spitting. One cubic metre bag of softwood is £45. A £10 deposit is required for the log bag or alternatively, wood can be tipped at your preferred location. Bags of hardwood logs are dry, mature logs which are seasoned and ready to burn. These are normally mixed bags of hardwood from local trees sustainably managed. This wood is ideal for any type of fire or appliance.
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One cubic metre bag of hardwood is £90. Again a £10 deposit is required for the log bag or alternatively, wood can be tipped at your preferred location. Some log suppliers will describe their bags as tonne bags or bulk bags, but in reality there won’t be as many logs in their bags as those supplied by Pasture Care. Logs from Pasture Care provide excellent value for money and having been barn stored to protect them from the elements, they are fine quality logs as well. Pasture Care has recently developed a tree shear mounted on a 13 tonne 360 excavator, with low ground pressure capabilities to enable working in boggy conditions with the minimum of ground disturbance. The tree shear can efficiently and safely be used to pollard trees, clear scrub, coppice hedges and harvest firewood. Working near roads, power lines, buildings and fences poses no problem for the tree shear. You can contact Pasture Care for day rates or if you would like a free copy of their tree shear dvd. Pasture Care have also built up a wellrespected reputation for providing top quality hay and straw with customers that have been with them since the beginning. Using a 21 bale pack system means they can move large numbers quickly and efficiently. The baler is fitted with a moisture meter to ensure a consistent high quality product. Pasture care supply customers at both ends of the scale ranging from quantities of 20 bales through to 10,000. So if you are looking for locally sourced quality logs (FREE delivery within a 30 mile radius). Quick, contact Pasture Care. Chop, chop.
Penn Farm, Manor Road, Towersey, Oxfordshire, OX9 3QX Office: 01844 21 77 71. Mob: 07768 020607 Email: kevin@pasturecare.com
Kevin Smith
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> HOME & GARDEN
Jenny Pickford
Jenny Pickford is a skilled blacksmith and artist. A former pupil at Lord Williams School in Thame she creates stunning, larger than life sculptures. See her work this Autumn at Waterperry Gardens.
Agapanthus sculpture. It stands 4.5m high and contains 100 stunning hand blown glass flowers, with steel leaves that move gently in the slightest breeze.
T
here aren’t many female blacksmiths, and there aren’t many metalworkers of any gender who regularly produce work that stands three or four metres high. But then Jenny Pickford is an unusual artist. Originally studying in fine art, she switched to learning blacksmithing at Hereford College because she wanted to work on a larger scale. Today she’s recognised internationally as one of the country’s leading artist-blacksmiths, with a signature style that combines forged steel with blown glass to make fluid, organic shapes of recognisable plants with leaves, stalks and flowers … and they’re spectacularly oversized. “I love the technical challenges of creating a huge work that will be stable when it’s installed and maybe shiver a little in the breeze. I like to stop people in their tracks.” Jenny’s sculptures are intended to grab the attention, to make you really see and feel the swirls and swoops of nature. The
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sheer scale draws attention to the delicacy and sensitivity of the sinuous shapes – but you also know the strength of the piece, because it’s made of metal and glass. Of course she takes her inspiration from the natural environment: “Look at the forms you find in nature; they’re delicate, yet strong. They’re beautiful, yet functional. My work is all about those contrasts.” “Someone once asked me why I didn’t just do life-sized flowers. Well, flowers are that size. An agapanthus wouldn’t gain anything from me doing a metal copy of it. But an agapanthus that’s taller than you are – now that really says something.” Her working style is largely intuitive. Where some contemporary metalworkers will spend hours with design software and computerised cutting tools, Jenny is more likely to start in the workshop. “I make it up as I go along,” she laughs. It’s not as simple as that, of course; she will spend time developing the idea in her head, and she understands so much about the possibilities of the materials she
uses that she doesn’t need a precisiontooled design. When working on public art and private commissions Jenny provides detailed drawings of the design, but many of her sculptures are made just to satisfy her creative whims. For these, a chalk outline on the workshop floor is likely to be as much preliminary detail as a sculpture receives before she starts work. Jenny has shown her work regularly at the Chelsea Flower Show and other RHS events like the Tatton Park, Malvern and Hampton Court shows. She doesn’t usually show her work in large groups; they simply need too much space for most exhibition venues, and besides she’s usually busy with individual commissions. Just before this year’s Wimbledon tennis championship she installed a 3m high dandelion-inspired piece outside the players’ entrance; not long ago she was in China, supervising the installation of a 4m hibiscus in Chengdu. Some years ago she was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust bursary to study at the well-known
The Great Wave is 2m high and 2.5m long, made from forged steel and bronze
Natural talent Thistle sculpture stands 2.2m high
Allium sculpture outside the players’ entrance to the All England Lawn Tennis Club
Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, USA, and she’s been a supporter of QEST ever since – regularly donating work to QEST’s fundraising auctions, for instance. An allium flower sculpture raised around £10,000 at a Christie’s sale in 2015; The QEST connection has meant a recent invitation to Prince Charles’ 70th birthday garden party at Buckingham Palace. But Waterperry Gardens provides the ideal backdrop for a solo show, and this Autumn Jenny will be showing more than two dozen recent sculptures there under the name SuperNature III (SuperNature I was in 2015, at the National Trust’s Courts Garden in Holt; SuperNature II was Jenny’s first solo show, at Waterperry in 2017). “I love Waterperry Gardens, the mix of formality and areas that are still uncultivated woodland. Maybe because I can see so many suitable locations for my work – some pieces suit the formal areas, others relate so well to the wilder, more open settings.” Jenny grew up on a farm four miles from Waterperry and still has family in the area; she feels a strong connection to the
Oxfordshire countryside where her artistic imagination was forged. “And this is a place I can particularly relate to. When it was run as Waterperry Horticultural School in the early 1930s it was a pioneering project, a residential horticultural college specifically for women. “Professional women gardeners weren’t common, and I like to think I’m in the same tradition – there aren’t too many women blacksmiths! The warm feelings must be mutual; in 2016 Jenny was commissioned to produce a decorative gate for Waterperry Gardens. She produced a design inspired by the herbaceous borders (and capable of keeping out the rabbits too). Today she lives and works in rural Herefordshire – she studied blacksmithing at Hereford College – but her clients come from all over the world. “The beauty of nature is an international language, isn’t it?” she says. “I’m just glad I’m picking up enough of the vocabulary.”
Jenny’s gate for the walled garden at Waterperry Gardens.
SuperNature III runs at Waterperry Gardens from September 8th to November 3rd, open 10am to 5pm. See more of Jenny’s work at www.jennypickford.co.uk.
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> HOME & GARDEN
Two different sized kitchens from Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors Both left their owners breathless with admiration.
It’s not the size that Princes Risborough before
Princes Risborough after
W
hatever size the room and whatever shape, one thing you can guarantee, Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors will get the best out of the available space. In this issue we look at two contrasting sizes and styles of kitchen. The first involved adding space by building an extension, the second was a re-configuring of an existing space. More and more customers it seems are requesting extensions to house a larger kitchen/diner. Perhaps it’s a Brexit inspired economic worry, a desire to stay close to a school of choice or simply the cost of moving home that has encouraged more families to stay put. A small reduction in garden size can lead to a vastly increased living area. Princes Risborough This kitchen in Princes Risborough is one such example. With plans drawn up by Lynn Palmer Architects, a large extension to the rear and side of the property was built, replacing a conservatory and garage.
“ We were fed up living with someone else’s kitchen, we wanted one that worked for our family” 38. Thame Out
For years the owners had lived with somebody else’s kitchen. So the desire was for a large family space with an impressively large island. She got it! The room is a vast family room incorporating the kitchen (and its 3 metre island), dining table that sits eight people and two sofas near the wall mounted television. It is a bright and airy environment. Light floods in from the six velux windows and bi-fold doors. The kitchen area benefits from strip, spot and hanging lights. The strip lights round the island conveniently throws light into the drawers when opened. All drawers and cupboards are completely handle free, giving a smooth modern look. The kitchen features one of the latest Siemens flexinduction hobs with the revolutionary new integrated downward ventilation system, enabling even more possibilities for flexible kitchen design. Along the side wall are housed a wine fridge, dishwasher and larger than normal
sink with a hot tap. The tea and coffee making facilities are tucked neatly away in the top cabinet just above. This left a large space to use along the back wall. Featured here are a large larder fridge, a Siemens full size single oven incorporating many cooking features, teamed with a combination oven and microwave. Next to this sits a pull-out larder for storage. Kingsey Kitchens loves to sort out tricky spaces so when faced with a huge original chimney breast which couldn’t be removed as it was used in the lounge on the other side of the wall, our imaginative designers turned it into three bespoke shallower than normal storage cupboards. This way many kitchen items can be stored but still seen clearly and accessed easily. A further pull out larder comes just before the integrated freezer.
matters, it’s the sighs. Thame before
Thame after
Thame There is a less expensive way to increase the size of and improve the ergonomics of your kitchen as this job in Wellington Street, Thame proves. The customer’s kitchen was looking tired and a little dark and cramped. The solution? Create more space and light by knocking down an existing interior wall (actually two walls). It is quite a transformation and no planning permission required, just building regulations. The increased space meant the customer could have a large central island. Another request was for a large traditional style larder. These larders are proving very popular, as are baking cupboards. They are like a mini kitchen within a kitchen. The electrics, plumbing, food storage, toasters and mixers can be kept all in one place. The owner of this property wanted to keep her beautiful Rangemaster oven
and fridge freezer so Kingsey designed and built her kitchen to fit the existing appliances with a style of finish to suit the age of the property. A great mix of the modern/practical and traditional look. Because Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors designs are bespoke and all made on site, the possibilities for your kitchen are endless. They can even help with planning applications, drawings and building regulations. Now there’s a sigh of relief.
Kingsey Kitchens & Interiors 1 The Barns, Manor Farm, Risborough Road, Kingsey, Bucks HP17 8LU www.kingseykitchens.co.uk 01844 290 899 info@kingseykitchens.co.uk Showroom Opening Times Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm Saturday & Sunday any time by appointment
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DESIGN CREATE COMPLETE
Opening Hours 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday 10.00am – 2.00pm Saturday. Or by Appointment
Unit 4A, UBF Industrial Park Bicester Road, Westcott, Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP18 0JX houseofkingswood.co.uk sales@houseofkingswood.co.uk 01296 651933
House of Kingswood offer bespoke bathroom and kitchen designs. As interior specialists we advise and support you with redesigning your kitchen and bathroom, always with your specific requirements in mind. Our showroom is complimented with a samples room and additional accessories such as opulent ceiling and floor lighting, soft furnishings and free-standing furniture. We have a huge selection of natural stone and reconstructed alternatives and floor and wall tiles.
Skill, experience, imagination and flair.
Celebrating The Unusual In Creative Craftsmanship
Ceramics Glass J e w e l l e ry Wo o d B ro n z e
Celebrating contemporary creative craftsmanship.
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SHUTTER SPEC SECURITY We supply, install and service a range of high quality garage doors, security grilles/shutters and entrance gates. Please come to our showroom.
UNIQUE SECURITY FEATURES
Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Security Solutions
01844 212152 info@shutterspecsecurity.co.uk www.shutterspecsecurity.co.uk
6 Swan Walk, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3HN Tel: 01844 212152 www.shutterspecsecurity.co.uk
> HOME & GARDEN
Christmas decorations It’s a Christmas countdown. How to update your home in time for the festive season with advice from House of Kingswood
S
eptember. The month children go back to school after their summer break, the month that many of us pick up our to-do lists that we put to one side, so we can enjoy the recent fabulous weather. With less than three months until Christmas, now is the time to get going on some of those interior projects that will make all the difference and won’t set you back as much as you thought. House of Kingswood are true interior specialists and advise and support their customers from the moment they make their initial enquiry right through to completion. Bathroom and kitchen expert, Brett Hurley shares his top tips on how to smarten up your home in time for Christmas. With a super impressive samples room which is kitted out with everything you could possibly need from carpet to engineered wood, floor and wall tiles, kitchen door and handles, underfloor heating and water softeners as well as taps and huge range of stone surfaces. BRETT’S TOP TIPS ON HOW TO GET YOUR HOME CHRISTMAS READY 1. Decide which room of the house you want to update and what you want to achieve. Set your goal. Do you want to achieve a fresh new, modern look or are you simply wanting to add a lick of paint to smarten things up.
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Brett Hurley and Sharon Wheeler
3. Set a budget and try to work to it. Giving yourself a maximum amount that you want to spend not only saves time and energy on both parts but knowing what your budget is means you won’t be tempted to look at products that aren’t in your price range. 4. Updating your kitchen appliances is one of my favourite ways to get an instant make-over on a budget. Simple purchases of a new kettle, coffee machine, fridge or toaster give a sparkly and new feel to a kitchen every time. 5. For a quick and in expensive triumph, fresh new towels in all your bathrooms and bedding is another way to freshen things up.
2. Whether its carpet, tiles, lighting or units and worktops decide your style and colour scheme so that everything in the room works together. There are so many testers and samples available, take them home and see what they look like in your home.
that little bit longer, they tend to be on a 5 to 6 week lead time. Once your goods have arrived a fitting date is confirmed, that’s when it starts to get exciting. Once the kitchen or bathroom is fitted, we work through your snagging list and don’t hand it over until you are 100% happy with the finished product. Now that would be a Christmas present and a half, a bubble bath in a brand-new roll top bath, glass of Champagne in hand or cooking your Christmas turkey in a new double oven! If you would like to make a pre-Christmas enquiry for your interior project, give House of Kingswood a call today on 01296 651933 to book an appointment to see how they can help.
If you are hosting Christmas this year and have committed to having everyone stay over at yours, fear not, there is still time to get a new bathroom and even a kitchen. After discussing your requirements, it takes a few days to turn around a detailed quote and design, if you are happy to proceed, most goods are generally on a 3 to 4 week dispatch. Kitchen goods take
houseofkingswood.co.uk l sales@houseofkingswood.co.uk l 01296 651933
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Hardwood Timber Specialists - Since 2005
FLOORING DOORS Special Offer WORKTOPS on Mexicano Doors ACCESSORIES (838,762 and 686 mm). Just £79 SPACIOUS SHOWROOM inc VAT. FREE PARKING DISCOUNTS ON ALL FLOORING & DOORS IN STORE
Unit G, Lower Road, Garsington, Oxfordshire OX44 9DP Tel: 01865 367888 Email: sales@everythingwood.net www.everythingwood.org.uk
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> HOME & GARDEN
Latest from the Barn
Discover some new gift ideas from Stratton Audley Barn. Tracy Maitland pays a visit.
W
hat are the chances ... just as I am being shown a range of uber-stylish cycling accessories at the Stratton Audley Barn, a cycle club ride in for morning coffee & cake! The Barn, situated in the gorgeous Oxfordshire village of Stratton Audley also offers delicious light lunches, scrumptious afternoon teas & mouth watering gelato - not only is there a fantastic variety of food & drink available, but a wonderful selection of gifts, home wares & greeting cards too.
Wherever possible English companies are used to supply the eclectic mix of tempting home accessories & present ideas, from candles to cushions, toiletries to tote bags, watches to water jugs, picture frames to pashminas, scarves to scones. there truly is something for everyone! My next visit to the Stratton Audrey Barn will see them gearing up for Christmas & the arrival of all things festive & sparkly!
Stratton Audley Barn West Farm Barn, Launton Rd, Stratton Audley, Bicester OX27 9AS 01869 278184 www.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk
THA E
FOOD
FESTIVAL TWO DAYS OF DELICIOUSNESS Thame Show Ground (OX9 3JL)
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th September
Tickets just £5 per day. Or just £8 for BOTH days if you book tickets in advance.
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00 Sunday 11.00 - 4.00 Closed Mondays Lunches served on Tuesday to Friday 12.00 - 2.30 Afternoon Teas: Please give 48 hours notice
Includes: FREE programme. FREE parking. FREE entry to under 16’s accompanied by a parent. FREE shuttle bus to and from Thame town centre.
Visit www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk to book your tickets
> HOME & GARDEN
At home in
Haddenham
to make the best of the local environment with the Chiltern Hills taking centre stage. Individuality was a key consideration in the planning of the development with The blend of country living and city lifestyle can be yours every opportunity taken to create attractive street scenes by blending a wide range of at The Grove in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire – home styles together with subtle details launching 4th October 2018 and exterior finishes ensuring that new a pond framed by Skittles Green and the homebuyers are spoilt for choice. 12th century St Mary of the Virgin church. Each traditionally constructed new There are many reasons for choosing to f you are looking for a gorgeous home is being built to exacting standards, live at The Grove, and there are ample new home built to the very highest featuring the highest quality materials and amenities to cater for all tastes, including standards and benefitting from benefitting from luxury fixtures and fittings excellent travel connections, set within countryside walks, local community social which extend across tiling, kitchen units, activities, sports clubs, and a local website an exquisite, much sought-after village appliances and bathroom sanitary ware, keeping all residents up-to-date with with all the life enhancing qualities that with an emphasis on space and light to events and gatherings. the hills, open fields and clear skies offer, create a sense of calm and serenity. For those with families there is a wide all only 40 minutes by train from London The first phase of the development is range of state, grammar, and independent – then you’ve found it at The Grove, being launched on October 4th from The schools to choose from including two Haddenham. highly rated junior schools situated within a Grove’s dedicated sales and marketing The Grove is a fabulous new village suite, providing the perfect opportunity 10-minute walk of The Grove. development created by award winning to visit the two beautifully dressed show Each of the new home designs and Dandara New Homes set in the heart homes. The Dandara sales and marketing layouts has been carefully considered to of historic Haddenham, one of North team will be on hand to assist and answer Buckinghamshire’s finest Domesday listed appeal to a range of discerning home any questions, as well as taking reservations villages, comfortably cocooned among the buyers, from first time purchasers, young on the first new properties being released. and growing families, to downsizers and Chiltern Hills, which are recognised as an With an enviable location surrounded those seeking easy living bungalow style Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. by historical cities and towns, including homes with spacious gardens. The development is minutes from Oxford, Aylesbury, Thame, and some of The layout of The Grove has been the pretty village centre, renowned for sensitively planned around the meandering the prettiest villages in England, The Grove its dreamy thatched roof half-timbered presents the chance to live the life that natural landscape, featuring open spaces, houses with colourful cottage gardens, you’ve always promised yourself. It’s time hedgerows, small copses and a play area village butcher, shops, public houses, and to combine the calm and tranquillity of the Vale of Aylesbury with the buzz of nearby cities to get the best of both worlds.
I
For further information and to register your interest about any of the new homes at The Grove visit www thegrovehaddenham.co.uk or call 0800 5758 171.
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> EDUCATION
A new man at the helm Ashfold School has a new Head.
T
he start of the new academic year sees a new Headmaster at the helm at Ashfold School, the leading independent co-educational prep school in Dorton, Buckinghamshire (just six miles from Thame). Colin MacIntosh takes over from Michael Chitty who retires after 21 years as Headmaster. Educated at Repton, Colin read English Language and Literature at St Andrews. He started his teaching career in Shrewsbury School and then spent the next 15 years working in prep schools. He comes to Ashfold from Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire where he has been Deputy Head since 2012. Colin says, “I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed as the next Head of Ashfold School. It will be a privilege to lead this wonderful school in the next phase of its development and I am looking forward to getting to know its staff, parents, pupils and Old Ashfoldians.”
Colin is a keen sportsman playing football, cricket and golf. He is married to Anna and they and their two children are very much looking forward to joining the local community and getting to know the area. OPEN EVENTS AT ASHFOLD SCHOOL You are warmly invited to: l Come & Play on Wednesday 3 October 2018, 9.15 – 10.45am A fun session for parents and pre-school children
Colin MacIntosh
Open Morning on Saturday 6 October 2018, 10am – 12 noon l
For more information or to book a place, please contact Fiona Grainge, the Registrar, on registrar@ashfoldschool.co.uk or 01844 238237. www.ashfoldschool.co.uk
“Our stunning rural setting is the perfect place for children to work and play. We offer a genuinely broad curriculum, where lessons learned outside the classroom can be just as important as those learned inside the classroom.” Colin MacIntosh
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> FOOD & DRINK
Is Table Wine the new Fine Wine? Jerome Harlington shining a light on table wine
Y
ou may be surprised to find that humbler wines, perhaps not rising to great acclaim, still share a lineal ancestry with the noblest of their kind. In this article I’d like to shine a light on these Table Wines as the market has changed so much over recent years. Broadly speaking we are now offered traditional fine wines on the one hand, which are mostly out of reach of the majority of wine enthusiasts pockets; and mass market, although much improved, generic commercial wine on the other lining supermarket shelves and chain restaurants the length and breadth of the Country. There have been changes, mostly the result of agricultural technology, and huge buying power leading to economies of scale, and as always these advances effect a way of life, especially for the people who work on the land. The production of table wine is an ancient story, many thousands of years in the making, but fundamentally only marginally different today than of old. Please be in no doubt that we are in serious danger of losing small batch production, traditionally made every day drinking wine for good. The old pattern of farming is on the cusp of extinction. Now is a turning point, it could go either way. Demographic forces, education, industrial expansion and smaller families made the sustaining of such an agricultural life too precarious for these small family farms, so there has been mass emigration from the land. The remnants of these small working units remain today mostly in the hands of an older generation born at the onset of the Second World War. Their sons and
daughters - have largely turned their backs on this way of life. The old way of life will soon be a faint echo only discernible to social historians. But I don’t want to leave you feeling that everything is doom and gloom, it isn’t. There is a new generation of craft wine enthusiasts keen to produce the best wine they can without compromise, using traditional methods and minimum intervention. The aspirations of these young winemakers is to produce a wine that is a true reflection of the small plot from where the grapes were grown and harvested. There is a craft wine movement, just like the craft beer movement and craft gin movement. You can pick up this wine through brilliant specialist importers and independents such as Trailblazing Wine! These wines will never be cheap, the fact that they are produced in very small quantities from small plots using traditional
THAME WINE FAIR Friends of Thame and District Citizens Advice are holding their 5th annual Wine Fair on Saturday 10 November at Thame Town Hall from mid-day until 18.00. Entrance to the Fair costs £6 which includes a £3 charity donation to Citizens Advice. For the price of a glass of wine you can taste & discuss fine quality wines from around the world with Wine Merchants who buy directly from the growers; and buy/order directly from them at the Fair.
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methods means that in order for the winemaker to make anything greater than a living wage you should be prepared to spend between £10 and £20 a bottle. But it will be worth it! With the increased interest in small production gin and craft beers, things are looking positive for traditional craft wine, amongst the trendsetters these really are the new fine wines! But it’s by no means certain that we have saved the humble bottle of hand crafted table wine just yet, the movement has only just started. So If you’d like to be part of the movement that saves the humble craft wine from extinction, get in touch if you’d like to try a few bottles - thameout@ trailblazingwine.com - I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! You’ll be the trendiest person in your neighbourhood! Happy Exploring!
jerome@trailblazingwine.com www.trailblazingwine.com +44 (0)1865 339353 Mobile:+44 (0)7886 916857
The Rising Sun - Fine 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.
Watch Premiership and EFL Football Rugby, Cricket, Golf and much more ...
and top sport b Food served until 10.30pm b Takeaways available b Lunchtime specials for people in a hurry b Tuesday is quiz night (cash prizes) The Rising Sun, 26 High b Live music every other Saturday Street,Thame OX9 2BZ b Loyalty card available (ask in pub) 01844 214206 b Half price cocktails every Wednesday b Find us on Facebook b Live sport (Sky & BT) www.risingsun-thame.co.uk
> OUT & ABOUT
Wild times
The new Wildlife Zone has opened at The Green Dragon RareBreeds Farm & Eco Centre.
G
reen Dragon Eco Farm, only 15 miles from Thame, opened Phase One of its new Wildlife Zone on 1st August 2018, following months of planning, fund-raising and construction. This exciting project enables visitors to view British and European native species up close, such as the red squirrel, facing an uncertain future with only 140,000 left, and the protected barn owl. Other animals include the silver fox, wallabies, reindeer, golden eagle, buzzard and other native birds of prey. Pine marten, European polecat and lynx will arrive in Phase Two at the end of September. Jay Wood, General Manager, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to open the Wildlife Zone. Our mission since opening the farm attraction four years ago has been to conserve rare breeds and inspire people to enjoy the great outdoors. The natural next step was to support and celebrate some of our native wildlife. Now the new zone is open, visitors can view these wonderful animals, learn about their habitats and take home a positive message about what we can all do for conservation”. Protection & Conservation The Zone’s aim is to support the protection and conservation of British and European native animals that are ‘conservation sensitive’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This means they are at risk in the wild and there is a need for active conservation to protect their
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populations. Green Dragon’s plan is to firstly get involved in conservation breeding programmes, such as those for the Scottish wildcat and red squirrel. Secondly, the Zone will become home to rescued wildlife in need of care, sanctuary, and possibly rehabilitation. Thirdly, sadly some wildlife is kept within the pet trade and animals are found requiring better homes – Green Dragon can provide the facilities to give them the care and support they need. The five-acre Wildlife Zone consists of extra-large enclosed environments for the animals, a central, covered teaching space, and an outdoor display lawn for demonstrations and flying displays. Interpretation boards and interactive talks give information about each species, their link to UK native habitats and how conservation can help them in the wild. Outdoor Learning In addition to the existing domestic and exotic animals, the new Wildlife Zone brings exciting new species allowing Green Dragon to broaden its educational provision and bring natural sciences to life, appealing to older children and offering additional curriculum links. For the visiting public, the new species mean that the Green Dragon Animal Encounters Programme is now even more fascinating and Ranger for a Day, an exciting and exclusive experience for 10 to 17 year olds is becoming popular with visitors wanting extra special close encounters with the animals.
Autumn Events Green Dragon are celebrating their heritage apples on Saturday, 6th October with Apple Day - A FREE event with activities for all ages including applepressing and talks about heritage varieties as well as young trees for sale. Visitors can experience the whole process first hand by picking apples in the orchard to pressing them for apple juice to take away. Halloween Halfterm event is running throughout the school half-term holiday. This is a family friendly event that hosts a variety of themed, educational and fun experiences and activities, such as wizard sensory games, beastly bug hunts and creepy story-telling. Highlights of the event are the hands-on animal encounters with the Dragon Witch and the Pumpkin Carving Experience where visitors can pick their own pumpkins in the orchard, carve a design and take it home.
For more details about the Wildlife Zone, Ranger for a Day or Autumn Events call 01296 670444 or email info@greendragonecofarm.co.uk. To discover all that The Green Dragon Rare Breeds & Eco Centre has to offer schools, call 01296 670444 or email education@greendragonecofarm.co.uk
The Green Dragon Eco Farm. Claydon Road, Hogshaw MK18 3LA. Open daily 10am - 5.30pm www.greendragonecofarm.co.uk 01296 670444 info@greendragonecofarm.co.uk Annual memberships available.
Stratton Audley Barn Café • Gifts • Interiors
West Farm Barn, Launton Rd, Stratton Audley, Bicester OX27 9AS 01869 278184 www.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk
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> ENTERTAINMENT
Playing at the Oxford Playhouse WOMAN IN POWER 3 – 6 OCTOBER Based on Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen, this raucous new musical comedy has been created by celebrated writers Wendy Cope, Jenny Eclair, Suhayla El-Bushra, Natalie Haynes, Shappi Khorsandi and Brona C Titley with dramaturgy by Clare Slater. Combined with an exceptional comic cast, and directed by Blanche McIntyre, this is a celebration of sketches with songs, dance, music and women taking the lead.
Ticket prices £10 - £30 Discounts available Age Guideline: 12+
THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA 24 – 27 OCTOBER Direct from a smash hit West End season, The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns to the stage, celebrating 50 years of Britain’s best-loved picture book. Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos.
Tickets: £10 to £14 | Discounts available for groups 10+ Age guideline: 3+
8 MINUTES 13 OCTOBER It takes just eight minutes for sunlight to travel 93 million miles to earth. In this unique collaboration, celebrated choreographer Alexander Whitley takes inspiration from solar science research and its stunning imagery. Dance, film and music take us on a journey through the universe, revealing the drama of the burning ball of plasma that illuminates our planet and exploring the numerous ways in which we relate to our home star.
Tickets: £10 to £20 | Discounts available Age Guideline: 8+
k COM PETITIONk WIN FOUR TICKETS TO SEE THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA Thursday 25 October (2pm). See page 66.
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WISE CHILDREN
13 – 17 NOVEMBER
Emma Rice (The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Brief Encounter) brings her uniquely musical and exuberantly impish vision to Angela Carter’s great last novel, Wise Children. A big, bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and pain, Wise Children is a celebration of show business, family, forgiveness and hope. This show from, the former Artistic Director of the Globe and Kneehigh, is one of OP’s coproductions to celebrate its 80th Birthday.
Tickets: £10 to £30 | Discounts available Age guideline: 12+
DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT 23 DEC – 6 JAN Following the huge success of Jack and the Beanstalk, join Oxford Playhouse for a pirate, pussycat and rat-packed panto party. Dick Whittington’s heading to town to seek his fortune – he’s heard the streets are paved with gold. But when he gets there, it’s hard to see the gold beneath the grime and King Rat is out to get him! With his trusty cat in tow and pirate ships on the horizon, Dick’s going to need a little help from you if he’s going to win the day.
Tickets: From £10 Age guideline: 5+
SHAKESPEAR IN LOVE 30 OCT – 3 NOV The Oscar-winning film, live on stage. Adapted by Lee Hall for a triumphant West End run, this epic Elizabethan extravaganza is exuberant, witty, funny, and a beautiful homage to love, art, and theatre itself.
Tickets: £10 to £37.50 No discounts Fri & Sat eves. Age guideline: 12+
Oxford Playhouse Ticket Office: 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com Thame Out .61
> ENTERTAINMENT
What’s new at the NEW THEATRE The Welsh National Opera will be returning to Oxford this autumn and have a stellar season of productions in store for audiences. During their run at the New Theatre Oxford they will be performing La Traviata (Oct 10 & 12), La Cenerentola (Oct 11) and War and Peace (Oct 13). WNO returns to Russia with a new production of Prokofiev’s War and Peace. Tomáš Hanus will make a much-anticipated return to the main stage. Based on Leo Tolstoy’s pivotal novel, the opera portrays with charm and affection the private lives of a section of Russian aristocratic society, and then examines what happens when these personalities, along with the entire Russian people, are caught up in the maelstrom of Napoleon’s invasion in 1812. Prokofiev began writing the opera in the 1940s, and fittingly for an opera with such strong themes of both war and peace, it will be performed during the centenary commemoration of the 1918 armistice. This will be a performing version based on Katya Ermolaeva and Rita McAllister’s new critical edition of Prokofiev’s original score, and will be performed in English. Brilliant soprano Lauren Michelle will return to WNO following her performances in The Merchant of Venice to take the role of Natasha in War and Peace. Autumn will also include the first revival of WNO’s 2007 production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola, conducted by Tomáš Hanus. This light and colourful opera is based on the Cinderella story and follows Angelina from her humble beginnings to her fairy tale ending, culminating in her final aria, Non più mesta. WNO welcome Tara Erraught in her main scale debut with the Company, taking the title role of Angelina. Three Italian singers with an excellent bel canto reputation also join the cast in their debuts with the Company: Matteo Macchioni (Don Ramiro); Fabio Capitanucci (Don Magnifico) and Giorgio Caoduro (Dandini). Completing the cast are Wojtek Gierlach, Aoife Miskelly and Heather Lowe. Tomáš Hanus said: “The centenary of the ending of the First World War is reflected in a very strong way in Prokofiev’s War and Peace. I am very much looking forward to working on this masterpiece with our wonderful orchestra, chorus and the soloists. This is going to be a very exciting and touching experience for all of us and for our audience. I would love for these evenings to become a very personal sharing of this touching story and beautiful music. I also hope our audiences are able to enjoy and to have fun, and experience, as Leonard Bernstein said, ‘The Joy of Music’ as we will also be performing La Cenerentola, a piece that has the power and beauty to show everybody just how beautiful music is.” The third opera in the autumn season is a revival of David McVicar’s production of La traviata, conducted by James Southall. Telling the tragic tale of courtesan Violetta and her lover Alfredo, La traviata celebrates compassion, love and self-sacrifice in the face of hypocrisy. The cast will include Anush Hovhannisyan and Linda Richardson who will share the role of Violetta, Kang Wang as Alfredo and Roland Wood as Giorgio.
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WELSH NATIONAL OPERA AUTUMN SEASON La Traviata (10 & 12 OCT) La Cenerentola (11 OCT) War and Peace (13 OCT) k COM PETITIONk WIN TWO TICKETS TO SEE WNO’s PRODUCTION OF LA TRAVIATA Wednesday 10 October. Prize includes a drinks voucher and FREE programme. See page 66.
AN EVENING WITH NIGELLA LAWSON 13 NOVEMBER Nigella is ready to chat food and life. AN EVENING of entertainment is cooking at the New Theatre Oxford this autumn as Nigella Lawson embarks on a tour. Nigella Lawson established herself as a household name in 1998 with the publication of her ground-breaking debut cookbook, How to Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food. Her engaging, conversational writing style, along with a relaxed approach to cooking has inspired a new generation of home cooks and today she has eleven bestselling books and several hit TV series to her name, making her a global food icon.
The Jersey Boys are Working Their Way Back to Oxford The Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning musical JERSEY BOYS is returning to Oxford. The show will be at the New Theatre Oxford for Christmas 2018 (December 17 – January 5, 2019) and is part of a newly announced set of performances to the second UK tour. The producers are also delighted to announce that Michael Watson will be playing Frankie Valli, Simon Bailey will be Tommy De Vito, Declan Egan will be Bob Gaudio and Lewis Griffiths will be Nick Massi. Michael, Simon, Declan and Lewis have all previously performed their roles in JERSEY BOYS to great acclaim: Michael and Simon in the West End, Declan in the West End and Australia, and Lewis in the first UK and Ireland tour. Dayle Hodge will return to the production to play Frankie Valli at certain performances. JERSEY BOYS is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from
This autumn, come and celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nigella’s first book, as she talks about her life in food and what she’s cooking right now. She will be at the New Theatre Oxford on Tuesday, November 13. Charming, witty and entertaining, Nigella will be interviewed by a range of authors, journalists and foodies during her tour, as we get to the heart of what it means to be an award-winning author, TV cook and all-round food enthusiast. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an evening of fascinating conversation with the champion of home cooking.
JERSEY BOYS
17 DEC – 5 JAN 2019 the wrong side of the tracks. These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man,
December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.
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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> LISTINGS
What, where and when? NEW THEATRE – OXFORD www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk 0870 606 3500 September 8 Fastlove – A Tribute to George Michael 11 Ant Middleton 14 Money For Nothing 15 Alexandra Burke 20 - 22 Thriller Live 23 Des O’Connor & Jimmy Tarbuck 24 An Evening with Grayson Perry, Jay Rayner, Gareth Malone & Rachel Tucker 25 Whitney - Queen of the Night 26 The Simon and Garfunkel Story 27 Soul Legends - featuring special guest Lamar 28 Joan Armatrading 29 Dylan Moran 30 Some Guys Have All The Luck - The Rod Stewart story October 2 Sixties Gold 3 Dave Gorman 4 Bowie Experience 5 Rip it Up 6 Ross Noble - El Hablador 7 Level 42 - Eternity 10 WNO - La Traviata 11 WNO La Cenerentola 13 WNO - War and Peace 17 Joanna Lumley 18 Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night 21 Harry Hill’s Kidz Show 26 Dr Jordan Peterson 28 Richard Thompson - The 13 Rivers Tour 30 - 3 Nov The Band: Take That’s New Musical November 5 Brendan Cole 8 A Night at the Musicals 9 One Night of Elvis: Lee Memphis King 10 Seasick Steve 13 An Evening with Nigella Lawson 17 Jessie J
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18 Show of Hands 19 Deacon Blue 22 The Magic of Mowtown 23 The Australian Pink Floyd Show 24 Billy Ocean 26-1st Dec Blood Brothers December 2 One Night of Queen 4-8 Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story on Stage 11-15 Nativity the Musical 18 - 6th Jan Jersey Boys OXFORD PLAYHOUSE www.oxfordplayhouse.com 01865 305305 September 3 - 8 The Wipers Times 18 - 22 Othello 23 How To Hide A Lion 24 - 29 The Habit Of Art 25 - 13 Nov Mothers Who Make 25 Bullish 29 Plink And Boo 30 Tom Allen: Absolutely October 1 Perfectly Imperfect Women 3 - 6 Women In Power 4 - 5 Salt 5 Summiting The Science Of Everest 6 Oxford Fun Palace 8 Iain Stirling: U Ok Hun? 9 Rhondda Rips It Up 10 Austentatious 11 Simon Stephens 11 Marcus Brigstocke: Devil May Care 12 User Not Found 13 8 Minutes 17 - 20 The Threepenny Opera 21 80th Anniversary Gala Performance 24 Participation 24 -27 The Tiger Who Came To Tea 26 The Annual Charles Simonyi Lecture 30 - 3 Nov Shakespeare In Love
November 5 -6 Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story 7 Ballet Black 8 Sara Pascoe: Ladsladslads 9 David O’doherty - You Have To Laugh 10 Fisherman’s Friends 13 - 17 Wise Children Copy 16 Emma Rice 23 - 6 Jan Alby The Penguin Saves Christmas THE PLAYERS THEATRE – THAME www.thameplayers.co.uk The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 2DP September 11 -15 Oh What a Lovely War 28 Simon Brodkin is not Lee Nelson (work in progress) 26 Twist October 5 Andante Live Presents Blowin’ In The Wind 7 Minds’ Wings by Patrick Collins for Amnesty International 12 The Fabulous Boodlum Band 14 Only Fools and Boycie - An intimate evening with Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis 21 DUETS - presented by White Cobra 28 Bob Drury’s VIVA NEIL DIAMOND November 2 Opera Anywhere presents: 4 Gilbert and Sullivan Operas - The Mikado 3 Opera Anywhere presents: 4 Gilbert and Sullivan Operas - The Pirates of Penzance 3 Opera Anywhere presents: 4 Gilbert and Sullivan Operas - Patience 4 Opera Anywhere presents: 4 Gilbert and Sullivan Operas - HMS Pinafore 9 &10 Ten Tommies from Thame December 7, 9, & 12 Beauty and the Beast
WATERSIDE THEATRE 0844 871 7607 September 10 Camel 13 Michael McIntire - Work in progress 14 Wannabe – The Spice Girls 15 Mix 96 80’s Night 27 NT - King Lear live screening 27 Chris Ramsey live 29 Rick Wakeman - Piano Odyssey tour October 5 Spirit of Dance 6 Geoff Norcott: Traditionalism 9-13 Saturday Night Fever 10 RSC - The Merry Wives of Windsor 12 Cliff Richard live screening 14 Rip it Up 15 ROH - Mayerling live screening 15 Paul Young 17 The Robert Cray Band 18 Dracula - the Bloody Truth 19 A Vision of Elvis 20 Seriously Dead 21 The Goon Show 23-27 Summer Holiday 24 Funny Girl - the musical Encore screening 26 Comedy Club 28 The Royal Marines Association Concert Band November 5-7 Private Peaceful 8 Jason Manford - Muddle Class 9 That’ll Be the Day Christmas Show 10 Revival Day 10 Joanna Lumley 15 Islands in the Stream 17 Brendan Cole 18 The Illegal Eagles 19 Finding Joy 20 NT - The Madness of George III live screening 23 Steve Steinman’s Meatloaf Story 23 Comedy Club 24 The Ultimate Commitments and Blues Brothers Experience 24 Whitney - Queen of the Night 25 The Carpenters Story 26-1st Dec Fame the Musical December 7-31st Peter Pan 9 ROH The Nutcracker Encore screening 15 RSC - Troilus & Cressida Encore screening 21 Santa’s Christmas Party MISC Sepember 15 & 16 Kop Hill Climb Festival 15 Craft Market (Thame Town Hall) 15 A Last Night of the Proms Concert (Christchurch, Thame) 20 - 22 Thame Fair 29 Artists & Makers Fair (Thame Town Hall) 30 & 31 Thame Food Festival ( Thame Showground) October 18 - 21 Arts & Literature Festival
> COMPETITIONS
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
b
Win.Win.Win.
There are some great prizes to be picked up in this issue of Thame Out. You will need to submit a separate entry for each competition that you wish to take part in. All you have to do is answer the particular competition question and send your answer on a postcard marked, for example, personal trainer competition or, say, Oxford Playhouse competition to Thame Out, PO Box 181, Thame OX9 0BA. Closing date for entries is the 7th October 2018. Alternatively, you can email your answer to julian@red-l.co.uk
WINNERS Personal Trainer Competition Jenny Clarke Paul Wilkinson Competition Mrs Bhav Dalay and Rachel Sampson Story Telling Competition Alison Lewis Oxford Playhouse Competition Hayley Bamford and Cary Dunnet
Book Competition A copy of Italian And Roman Feasts will go to the first correct entry out of the hat. The question Author Gilly Hall Travers spent many years working for which tv broadcasting company? a) ITV b) BBC c) Channel Four (See page 7 for details)
Oxford Playhouse Competition Four tickets to see The Tiger Who Came To Tea on 25th October (2.00pm) will go to the first correct entry out of the hat. The question The original picture book is how old? a) 40 years b) 50 years c) 60 years (See page 60 for details)
Personal Trainer Competition A FREE training session with Hilary Westall will go to the first correct entry out of the hat. The question The Menopause usually occurs between what years of age? a) 35 -45 b) 45-55 c) 55-65 (See page 16 for details)
New Theatre Competition Two tickets to see wno’s production of LaTraviata on the 10 october will go to the first correct entry out of the hat. The question Violetta’s lover is called? a) Alto b) Amadeus c) Alfredo (See page 62 for details)