The community around is invited to try a new activity as the town gears up for this year’s ‘Sports in the Street’.

The free event will take place in the High Street on Friday, June 29, from 6pm to 9pm and all are welcome to join the fun, hosted by MP Sports.

Last year’s event was met with great success thanks to the hundreds of adults and children who attended, along with lots of interest and new members for all the clubs involved.

This year clubs will give live demonstrations, activities and information for people interested in taking up a new sport.

Children taking part will receive certificates and a free gift to encourage playing sports. The evening is also going to feature a live steel band.

MP Academy is managed by Manoj Parmar, an experienced ECB Level III coach, MCC member and former first class cricketer from India.

Manoj’s initiative started with a street cricket party in 2016 - ‘90 Not Out’ - to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, before expanding to all different kinds of sports in the local community the following year.

The event has now attracted over 15 participating clubs, ensuring there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

There is also an opportunity for promotion of local businesses who can sponsor the event.

For more information email sportinthestreetthame@gmail.com, call Manoj Parmar on 01844 212226, or visit http://mpsportscricketacademy.co.uk/

The streets of Thame came alive as the carnival brought fun and colour for a day.

Thame Carnival was held on Saturday, June 9, raising funds for schools in the town.

The parade from the town centre - with a theme of Countryside - set off around noon and was followed by a fete and dog show at the Southern Road Recreation Ground.

Spectators enjoyed a flypast during the afternoon of entertainment, in glorious sunshine.

Fun activities included a huge bouncy castle, egg throwing, duck fishing, learn an instrument, go karts, bottle tombola, Lionel the ride-on train, stilt walkers and much more.

The arena and stage kept the fun going with fire service obstacle course, dancing and student music showcase.

Crowds enjoyed plenty of food and drinks with a licensed bar, Pimms Tent, ice cream and burgers, gin stall, pizza, frozen yoghurt, North Indian and Caribbean hot food, and more.

And those dreams turned into reality when Jersey Boys and Dirty Dancing star Lewis Griffiths met television and radio presenter Melissa Crawford.
The couple fell in love and are now engaged to be married.
Currently on tour for the second time with Jersey Boys and just before returning to the Waterside in Aylesbury for a fortnight, Lewis chatted to me about being the perfect leading man on and off stage.
“I hope I am a romantic in real life,” he said as he explained how he and Melissa first met.
“I was on tour with Dirty Dancing and we had arrived in Newcastle, to be at the Theatre Royal for a week.
“We opened the show on a Monday and we had a lot of press in on Monday night, one of whom was Melissa. She was interviewing me the following day and needed to see the show to know what she was interviewing me for.
“Little did I know that when I walked into the room and she was addressing the camera doing a link sparks would fly. We decided to go for a drink afterwards. And one thing led to another and a few months later I’m going down on my knee.”
As Melissa is a Geordie and lives and works in the north, Lewis says he now spends a lot of time on the A1, and his romantic proposal was carried out at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. And - yet more romance - he’s teaching Melissa the iconic final dance from Dirty Dancing so that they can perform it at their wedding!
But for now, Lewis is touring for the second time with Jersey Boys, which tells the true life story of four boys from the wrong side of the tracks who wrote their own songs, invented their own sound and sold 100 million records worldwide.
The Four Seasons, with lead singer Frankie Valli, may have hit stardom long before Lewis was even a twinkle in his own father’s eye, but he knew of their music because his late grandfather was a musician and Lewis grew up with the classics. And he was delighted to be asked to return to the role of Nick Massi, bass singer and bass guitarist with The Four Seasons.
He said: “I’m a singer, I love to sing, I have played roles like Johnny in Dirty Dancing that require me to dance to a high standard, but I don’t enjoy those half as much as I enjoy acting. That was the draw for me when the producers of Jersey Boys came knocking and said, would you like to do Nick Massi again? It was a no brainer for me, because it’s certainly not paint by numbers acting to play a role like Nick Massi. A lot of people misinterpret this show as a musical, but The Seasons require actors to play the roles because this is a play set to a back catalogue of music.”
The famous red jackets are used in all the publicity material for the show, but surprisingly, they don’t appear a lot in the actual production.
Lewis said: “We’ve got the red jackets on for Sherry and Big Girls Don’t Cry.
“Then once we segway from Big Girls Don’t Cry into Walk Like A Man we take the jackets off during the studio performance. At the end of the show we are all in black suits for the finale of Who Loves You.”
Well, whatever they are wearing I can’t wait to see the show again.
Jersey Boys is at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury at 7.30pm from Tuesday, July 3, through to Saturday, July 14, with additional 2.30pm matinees on the Thursdays and Saturdays. Tickets from £20. Box office 0844 871 7607 or book online at www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

A young chef from Thame has been named a rising star and one to watch in his industry by winning a top award.

James Durrant, 27, head chef of The Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor, one of Oxfordshire’s Peach pubs, was presented with an Acorn Award at a ceremony on Monday, June 4, in Worcestershire.

Awarded annually, the Acorn Awards celebrate the achievements of 30 of the hospitality industry’s brightest prospects, with each winner nominated by their peers for their outstanding ability in their field.

James was singled out for praise for his remarkable achievements as a chef over the last 11 years, a period which has seen him rise from waiting on tables to running his own kitchen.

At 17, he started out as a waiter at The Angel, Long Crendon, quickly convincing the chef / patron to take him on in the kitchen and send him to gain his chef’s whites at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College.

James joined The Thatch in Thame as junior sous chef in 2014, taking control of the kitchen team within three years and helping the pub to win a host of awards.

He became head chef of The Fishes in North Hinksey, Peach’s biggest pub which serves up to 3,000 meals a week at its busiest time, creating a new outdoor kitchen to cook a new garden menu.

When Peach took on The Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor this February, James became its new head chef, helping to put this classic country inn firmly back on the culinary map.

James said: “It’s a really big deal to win a national award like an Acorn and I haven’t quite taken it in yet, I’m quite overwhelmed. It’s certainly an acknowledgement of the commitment I’ve made over a decade to become a good chef, and recognition of all the effort I’ve put in, and I feel very honoured to have been nominated.

“I also know that I am fortunate to have had so many good people around me, who have helped and taught me, and it’s been thanks to their support that I have been able to push myself and work hard to get where I am today.

“I’m really excited to be bringing the award back to the pub and hope that it will encourage other young chefs to follow me into the industry and to work hard to achieve their dreams. I also hope it will inspire people from around the area to come to visit us to try the food we cook and have a great time at our pub.”

This year’s 30 young achievers spent a celebratory weekend at The Lygon Arms including a welcome dinner plus a team-building exercise to test their ‘Apprentice-style’ scavenging and football-related teamwork skills. They then took part in the awards ceremony hosted by organisers The Caterer, where Josh Eggleton, chef and co-owner of Bristol restaurants the Pony & Trap, Salt & Malt, Root and the Kensington Arms, was guest speaker.

Visit www.thecaterer.com/articles/529462/acorn-award-2018-winners-revealed and www.bearandraggedstaff.com

The first bursary winner for Thame Food Festival has been announced.

Festival organisers are delighted to announce that their very first bursary has been awarded to Tess’ Brilliant Bakes, run from a kitchen in the village of Adderbury.

Set up by Lisa Hartwright last year, the concept was initially built as a delicious sideline business selling to friends and family, but more recently Lisa has been venturing out into the realms of artisan food markets.

Priding herself on using local quality ingredients where possible, Lisa has gradually extended her range to include various cookies, tray bakes, loaf cakes, cupcakes and larger cakes.

The bursary includes £1,000 - which Lisa is going to spend on a catering oven - a free pitch at this year’s Thame Food Festival event, a free page in the festival programme, plus PR and social media support for one year.

She is going to be supported by high profile Food Festival Mentors who will be willing to help and encourage her over the year, using their many years of experience within the food and hospitality industry.

The mentors are Adam Johnson, head development chef for Raymond Blanc, at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Oxfordshire; Chris Wheeler, executive chef for Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire; Nick Downie, head of marketing for Stoke Park.

Lisa said: “I can’t quite believe it. It’s wonderful to have such a group of people believe in me and what I make. It’s also with huge thanks to my partner Paul. Without his unwavering support I wouldn’t be able to do this.

“I am already thinking about new recipes that I would like to share with the mentors to see what they think. There is even talk of us developing a special Thame Food Festival Bake specifically for the event in September. I can’t wait.”

Lotte Duncan, patron and organiser of Thame Food Festival, added: “We were absolutely delighted with the response to our very first bursary and my goodness the competition was tough. There were some great products from some amazing artisan producers, but we just had to make a decision.

“However, there was just something about Lisa and even more importantly about her fabulous products that completely won all the judges over. It will be a real delight to support her over the next year and see her at the event in our especially dedicated Bursary Area, which will include some of the other applicants and finalists.”

Fresh blood restores some Order.

Who remembers The Order 1886... well the similarities between that much-hyped PS4 exclusive and Vampyr are striking but with one big difference, the end result is infinitely better.

The build-up The Order 1886 received was effectively its downfall.

Hyped to the heavens, the brief gameplay videos and screenshots of The Order’s breathtaking graphics had expectations soaring.

And the vampire-werewolf sub-specie Victorian London plot was original and intriguing too.

To that end Vampyr is very similar as is its depiction of London matching The Order in the way it so brilliantly generates an almost tangible atmosphere. But we all know that The Order’s rigid and linear gameplay and plot and heavy reliance on cut scenes saw it flop.

Thankfully Vampyr did not suffer such pre-release hype but also delivers a fresh take on the supernatural mythology.

Dontnod Entertainment have produced an action role-playing game that may take inspiration from The Order (in my opinion - certainly aesthetically) but fills in the gaps.

You play Jonathan Reid, a doctor who has turned into a vampire and comes to terms with his undead condition as he is torn between the Hippocratic Oath and his newfound bloodthirsty nature.

This presents some tough choices and almost two completely different games depending on your approach. The combat doesn’t quite have the edge needed to really compel you to go on a bloodthirsty rampage, though. Where Vampyr does set itself apart, however, is its excellent recreation of London during the first World War and in the throes of the Spanish Flu epidemic.

It is gloomy and atmospheric but unlike The Order it is explorable through alleyways, cobbled streets, sewers and large sprawling buildings, all set to an Order-esque string-heavy score.

Like The Order the characters and storytelling are first class in Vampyr as is the picture perfect recreation of London.

The choices you have to make have a genuine impact on the course you follow throughout the game and in many ways it is Vampyr’s crowning achievement. There are bad points, mostly technical, which I hope can be worked out in patches but load times are a big issue.

Another annoyance is that your enemies can often deliver easy attacks which highlights other issues with a lack of difficulty. It can be a bit of a slow burn but make no mistake Vampyr is a triumph and every bit the game The Order 1886 should have been in so may ways.

Many wanted to see The Order get a sequel and for me Vampyr is the spiritual successor.

Royal Mail has banned postal workers from flying the England flag on their vehicles during the World Cup.

The news comes as world prepares for the month-long tournament to kick off in Russia later today.

Workers have been told they cannot fly football flags from their vehicles, bikes or trollies for safety reasons.

Read More: These are the laws for flying England flags during the World Cup

Royal Mail explained that employees can still put up flags in offices, with mail centres already having flags on display usually representing the countries workers come from.

According to the postal service the policy banning flags from vehicles has been in place for a number of years.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: ‘Flags should not be flown on vehicles as Royal Mail has a duty of care both to all employees and to members of the public.

‘This is a company-wide policy across the business which covers flags and stickers across trollies, bikes, vans and lorries. No other flag or insignia should be carried next to the Royal Mail brand and insignias.

Read More: Portsmouth named the most expensive city to watch World Cup in the UK

‘Flags placed on vehicles can obscure the driver’s view. They can also pose a potential hazard to other road users if they are lost when the vehicle is moving.

‘We do want our colleagues to have every opportunity to follow the World Cup but we need to continue to provide services to customers.

‘There will be flags on display in Royal Mail offices and live radio commentary playing on PA systems during matches.’

What do you think of the Royal Mail’s policy? Let us know in the comments below.

Center Parcs Woburn Forest has retained its Five Star status from VisitEngland, following the recent annual assessment.

The Bedfordshire village near Milton Keynes achieved a quality score of 98%, after VisitEngland assessors reviewed the services and facilities on offer at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest.

Each year, every aspect of the destination is thoroughly inspected, from the quality of accommodation, food and activities to the ease of booking and level of service provided.

Assessors commented that ‘standards have been well maintained and further development had been made since the last visit’ and the overall scoring of 98% is ‘outstanding’, particularly considering that Woburn Forest is still a relatively new village.

Center Parcs UK prides itself on its high quality accommodation, activities and restaurants, with last year seeing the biggest reinvestment to date, with around £80 million spent on new build accommodation, refurbishments and upgrades across the five sites.

Operations Director Alan Park said: “We’re delighted that Woburn Forest has yet again been awarded Five Stars from VisitEngland. Center Parcs UK works hard to ensure that our villages are maintained to a high standard and we continually reinvest to add new things, ensuring there is something new each time for returning guests. Getting this recognition from VisitEngland is a testament to the Woburn Forest team and the excellent service they deliver to our guests all year round.”

All five Center Parcs villages achieved scores between 90 and 98 in the latest assessment, rating them as ‘Excellent’ under the VisitEngland criteria.

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The hugely popular Waddesdon Manor in Bucks has announced a jam-packed summer schedule of fun.

Waddesdon Manor recently opened its summer exhibition in the Coach House Gallery, which showcases specially commissioned work by Michael Eden. Using the Waddesdon collections as inspiration, and working from 3D scans, Michael has made digitally printed pieces that draw on historic objects, re-imagined for today. Visitors can also indulge in an evening of astronomical and gastronomical delights, as we invite guests to join the Wycombe Astronomical Society for an evening of stargazing on Saturday 11 August, accompanied by a delicious two course dinner in the Manor Restaurant. And finally, we have an almost endless supply of activities for children throughout the summer holidays. Join Mimi for five weeks of fun, including family trails, workshops and expert-lead activity sessions in photography and drumming. Check out the full guide to a summer of fun at Waddesdon below.

A summer proms concert in Thame is set to raise the roof.

Prepare for a rousing performance and much flag waving as Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus take to the stage at Thame Leisure Centre for a sensational summer proms concert on Saturday, July 7, at 7.30pm.

This will be their last concert under the leadership of John Gibbons who, after 13 years with the chorus, is leaving due to an incredibly busy schedule of commitments.

Vaughan Williams will take centre stage with the mesmerising Toward the Unknown Region and Zadok the Priest, I Was Glad.

There will be prom’s favourites Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory which will be sure to raise the roof.

BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012 Laura van der Heijden will delight with Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor.

Tickets are only available for purchase in advance.

Tickets are £15 (under 18s £5) and include light refreshments. Available online at Eventbrite via lordwilliamsfestivalchorus.org.uk

The following people from Aylesbury Vale and beyond have recently been sentenced at magistrates courts in the county.

Wycombe Magistrates Court

June 4:

Nathan Taylor, 29, Viridian Square, Aylesbury: using threatening, abusive or insulting words towards another individual. Fined £180, ordered to pay compensation of £100, a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

June 5:

Faisan Mahroof, 21, Thrasher Road, Aylesbury: possession of a quantity of cannabis. Possession of a knife or bladed article in Hampden Road, Aylesbury.

Given a suspended four month prison sentence because of the seriousness of the offence. Ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

June 7:

Dian Horwood, (age 58), Orwell Drive, Aylesbury: drove a motor vehicle over the speed limit on the M5 in Somerset. Fined £40, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 - given three points on his driving licence.

Cole Probets, 32, Roberts Road, Haddenham: damaged the front window of a property. Used threatening, abusive or insulting words towards another individual. Fined a combined total of £600, ordered to pay compensation of £336, a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

Sandra Taylor, 59, Spicers Yard, Haddenham: persistently made use of a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety. Community order made - ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

June 8:

Shannon Kale, 22, Southfield Road, Princes Risborough: assaulted an individual occasioning actual bodily harm. Given a 12 week suspended prison sentence because of the seriousness of the offence. Ordered to pay compensation of £1,000, a victim surcharge of £115 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

Matt Adcock reviews Hereditary (15)

Kiss goodbye to your nerves: Hereditary is the new horror movie on the block that brings classy and truly unsettling viewing back with a bang. This might only be rated 15 but do not underestimate the sheer evil contained and the mind-bending freakery it unleashed.

It's refreshingly well-acted. The entire cast are terrific but Toni Collette absolutely owns this slow-burning spook-em-up which rarely resorts to jump scares. First time director Ari Aster ratchets up the tension and paranoia, taking mental illness and mixing it with the paranormal occult world.

This isn’t a film for the faint heart – decapitations, human sacrifice and horrific mutilations are weaved into a grieve laden tale of a dysfunctional family that is being torn apart by forces beyond their control.

By the time the end credits roll it’s likely you won’t even know quite how you actually feel about the film. It’s certainly really well made - the cinematography is gorgeous even when the subject matter is grim. What sets Hereditary apart from the quick jump standard horror efforts is the voodoo-like creeping dread that it builds up. The scenery plays a part – in almost every shot there are things half seen, like the woods that surround the family home the shadows look sinister, the dark corners of the rooms hide possible spectres. Even the strong gross-out moments which are likely to burn into your mind are handled well.

As the plot get more grim, the subtlety starts to slip and so by the end we’re in full on Rosemary’s Baby 2.0 territory. Sure Hereditary references many other horror movies such as The Exorcist, Lake Mungo and The Last Exorcism but it does manage to carve out its own niche.

Everything is machine tooled to unnerve, even the architecture is purposefully ‘wrong’ – which reminded me somewhat of The Shining. There is a haunting score and an effectively upsetting use of sounds such as a once innocent clicking of the tongue.

Circling around troubled mother Annie (Collette) are her family who include long suffering husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), Eldest son Peter (Alex Wolff), young daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro) and recently deceased grandma Ellen who doesn’t seem to want to rest in peace.

As a Christian I found the occult theology interesting in it’s anti-religious messaging. The plot of Hereditary fully encompasses spiritualism and doesn’t seem interested in providing a force of good to balance the scales.

Hereditary is a remarkable debut horror film from an obviously talented director but it might just be too disturbing for many.

The NHS has banned free prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ medicines such as constipation and athletes foot starting this month

NHS England is hoping to free up almost £100 million for frontline care each year by bringing in the changes.

The NHS will no longer be funding medicines such as cold treatments, paracetamol, probiotics, cough mixture, eye drops and laxatives.

However, the rule changes will not affect the prescribing of over the counter items for ‘longer term or more complex conditions’, NHS officials have confirmed.

NHS England have said that curbing these routine prescriptions for minor conditions, many of which will cure themselves, will free up vital funds.

The NHS announced the move at the end of the March and the new guidance to GPs across the country started from May 31.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: “Across the NHS our aim is to: ‘Think like a patient, act like a taxpayer’.

“The NHS is probably the most efficient health service in the world, but we’re determined to keep pushing further.

“Every pound we save from cutting waste is another pound we can then invest in better A&E care, new cancer treatments and much better mental health services.”

The NHS have said that some of the products can be purchased over the counter at a lower cost than that which would be incurred by the NHS.

The new guidance will curb the routine prescribing of products for self limiting conditions that do not require any medical advice or treatment.

These conditions, including sore throats, coughs and cold, will clear up on their own.

It will also apply to conditions that are suitable for self care which can be treated with items that can easily be purchased over the counter, such as indigestion, mouth ulcers and warts and verrucae.

NHS England have said that the guidance will not apply to people with long-term or more complex conditions who will continue to get their usual prescriptions.

However, people who receive free prescriptions will not automatically be exempt from the guidance.

Once CCGs have adopted the new guidance locally, it will apply to everyone who is not covered by the general or condition-specific exceptions listed in the guidance document.

These are the conditions affected by NHS prescription crackdown

• Acute sore throat

• Infrequent cold sores of the lip

• Conjunctivitis

• Coughs and colds and nasal congestion

• Cradle Cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis – infants) • Haemorrhoids • Infant colic

• Mild cystitis

• Mild irritant dermatitis

• Dandruff

• Diarrhoea (adults)

• Dry eyes/sore (tired) eyes

• Earwax

• Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

• Head lice

• Indigestion and heartburn

• Infrequent constipation

• Infrequent migraine

• Insect bites and sting

• Mild acne

• Mild dry skin

• Sunburn

• Sun protection

• Mild to moderate hay fever/seasonal rhinitis

• Minor burns and scalds

• Minor conditions associated with pain, discomfort and/fever. (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain)

• Mouth ulcers

• Nappy rash

• Oral thrush

• Prevention of dental caries

• Ringworm/athletes foot

• Teething/mild toothache

• Threadworms

• Travel sickness

• Warts and verruca

Smile residents of Aylesbury your town is being captured on camera.

An Apple Maps car has been spotted out and about in Aylesbury today as the technology giant takes pictures of the town for its app.

Like Google Maps, Apple Maps is a web mapping service developed by Apple which is the the default map system of iOS, macOS, and watchOS.

It provides directions and estimated times of arrival for car journeys, pedestrians and public transport. Apple Maps also features the Flyovers mode, a feature that enables a user to explore certain densely populated urban centers and other places of interest in a 3D landscape composed of models of buildings and structures.

On September 19, 2012, Apple released its mapping service in iOS, replacing Google Maps as the default mapping service for Apple operating systems.

In the initial launch, it received large amounts of criticism from users and newspapers for incorrect directions, a lack of support for public transportation users and various other bugs and errors. Since its introduction, further software development has addressed many of those criticisms.

And the hi-tech Apple Maps car loaded with cameras has been spotted driving around Aylesbury - captured on camera itself near Tesco Broadfields on Monday - and was also seen in Vale villages over the weekend.

Given the vastness of the operation undertaken by the likes of Apple and Google to map pretty much all the road network on the planet it is quite something when the image capturing cars roll into town.

Popular pub chain Wetherspoons has banned staff from flying the St George Cross during the World Cup.

The Three Lions are kicking off their campaign this evening in Volgograd against Tunisia, but if you were to pop into your local Spoons over the coming month you won’t see them drapped in England flags.

Wetherspoons has banned staff from hanging the St George Cross behind the bar in all of its pubs across the country during the World Cup, although bunting containing all of the teams taking part in the competition have been distributed.

A pub chain told The Express: ‘We wouldn’t want an England flag being put up in the heart of a pub by a staff member.

‘Whether flags are put up in staff rooms is up to the discretion of the manager.

‘We have sent all pubs bunting, which includes flags of all the teams.’

Read More: Royal Mail bans postal workers from flying England flags from vans during World Cup

As well as banning flags it was also reported yesterday that Wetherspoons ‘would support’ managers who refused to serve fans wearing the Three Lions shirt during the World Cup.

Leading to outragged England fans threatening to boycott the chain on social media.

One person tweeted: ‘No England shirts allowed in Wetherspoons during World Cup...idiots, say goodbye to all that extra profit then.’

Another wrote: ‘Wetherspoons banning England flags and shirts in England. Probably the most idiotic business proposal of all time. What is next? the church banning crosses inside the church. Enough of the PC garbage and let English people be proud to be English. Non debatable.’

Read More: These are the laws for flying England flags during the World Cup

However Wetherspoons have now said there will be ‘no restrictions’ on fans wearing England shirts in pubs during the World Cup.

The Mirror Online reports that a spokesman for the chain said: ‘We have told managers at each of our pubs that there should be no restrictions on customers wearing football shirts during the world cup.’

Wetherspoons announced last week that it would be taking Champagne and German beer off their menu in the run-up to Brexit, replacing them with more British and non-EU sparkling wines and beers.

England play Tunisia at 7pm tonight in their first group game at Russia 2018.

An award-winning author will give a talk in her home village of Long Crendon about her latest novel.

Sharon Bolton, who lives in the village with her family, had her debut novel, Sacrifice, made into a Hollywood film starring Radha Mitchell, Rupert Graves and David Robb, and her second, Awakening, won the Mary Higgins Clark award.

A Sunday Times bestselling author, described as ‘the high priestess of English rural gothic’, Sharon will give an illustrated talk at the library on Thursday, July 5, on The Craftsman, and tickets are now on sale.

They cost £5, to include a glass of wine or soft drink on arrival. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start and volunteer librarians hope enough support will be given to this event to enable regular Meet the Author events to take place in the village.

Sharon grew up in a cotton-mill town in Lancashire and worked in marketing and public relations before giving her career up in 2000 to become a mother and writer.

In 2014 she was awarded the Crime Writers Association’s Dagger in the Library for her entire body of work, which now numbers 11 books.

Much of Sharon’s inspiration comes from her Lancashire roots, as well as on countryside walks with her rabbit-chasing lurcher.

She said: “This will be the first talk I’ve given at Long Crendon library, but it is long overdue.

“The people of Long Crendon have supported me from the very beginning, before I even had a publishing deal, have given me lots of ideas for stories, and have even inspired a few characters. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Tickets are available from the library. If you would like to attend the talk but can’t get to Long Crendon Library, please email emmatate@btinternet.com or call Diana on 01844 201946 to reserve a seat.

A man who has worked to help people in what has been described as the most dangerous country on earth is to speak in Long Crendon.

‘Dangerously Alive’ is how the speaker, Simon Guillebaud, describes himself and he will reveal more at Long Crendon Baptist Church on Wednesday, June 27 at 8pm. Admission is free.

Simon left Bible college in 1998 and he was prepared “to go anywhere God wanted him to go.” Little did he know that God would be calling him to Burundi, reckoned at the time to be the most dangerous country on earth, in the region of East Africa.

After unexpectedly surviving genocide and civil war, he set up a charity with the vision to transform Burundi and beyond through holistic mission, working with gifted local leaders of integrity.

Simon was invited to speak at Long Crendon Baptist Church by pastor Mark Herbert, who said: “Simon is someone who won’t let you be comfortable! He has a love for life and a particular passion for the people of Burundi. Inspirational and engaging, he will certainly get you thinking. He has some amazing tales to tell of God at work in Burundi that will challenge your world-view and stir your heart.”

Simon’s life in Burundi has been tough. It is one of the poorest, hungriest and unhappiest countries in the world and is still very volatile, but Simon has been willing to risk his life daily because he truly believes that “If God is worth anything, then He is worth everything.”

Great Lakes Outreach, the charity Simon set up in 2005, seeks to empower and equip strategic leaders and ministries to transform Burundi and improve living conditions.

Mark added; “Come along and hear Simon’s stories. You will laugh, you will cry, but more importantly you will hear how, despite all the grim statistics and stories, God’s bigger story continues to be played out in Burundi. In the darkest places, the light shines brightest.”

On arriving in England, Simon and his wife Lizzie’s first stop will be an appointment at Buckingham Place to pick up their MBEs, awarded for their services to Burundi.

All are welcome to ‘Dangerously Alive: An evening with Simon Guillebaud’.

More info from www.lcbc.org.uk and www.simonguillebaud.com/

A woman from Thame is taking a market stall to ask residents about their own journey to the town.

How you came to live in Thame, what makes you feel at home, are just some of the the experiences Hazel Boundy is inviting people to share.

You have your chance to tell your own story at her stall being held at Thame Charter Market on Tuesday, June 26 and again on Tuesday, July 10.

Hazel said: “Many residents have come from other places - from cities large and small, from the countryside, from places nearby or from far away. Why were these moves made? What are the individual stories of these journeys of migration? Each new arrival has their own personal journey to relate.

“Come to visit the small table with two chairs opposite Michael Broun’s egg stall, and share your story that has, perhaps, never yet been told.”

The stall is part of Hazel’s Major Project that is the culmination of an MA in Social Sculpture and Connective Practice at Oxford Brookes University. The stories are part of an exploration into ‘Who are Migrants? What is Migration?’

Hazel added: “At this time of massive expansion in local towns and villages there are many newcomers. Thame is an especially friendly and welcoming town.

“I began to think what can it be like to come to a new place and do you make new friends and forge new histories?

“How did all these people both recent and from times gone by do this and why did they choose Thame. What has made them feel at home?”

If you cannnot make it to the stall on either of the dates, you can email Hazel at hazelboundy@me.com

A winner from TV’s Great British Bake Off – Candice Brown - will be joining the star-studded line-up of chefs and bakers at Thame Food Festival in September.

Since her success in 2016, Candice has been a regular columnist for The Sunday Times’ magazine, baked on This Morning and Christmas Kitchen and become one of the ambassadors for Love British Food.

Their celebration of Great British Food culminates in British Food Fortnight in September, with the middle weekend being that of Thame Food Festival on September 29 and 30.

Candice will join a line-up of top names in the industry, including prominent local chefs Raymond Blanc and Chris Wheeler, alongside another GBBO contestant Jane Beedle, and Jane Devonshire who was Masterchef winner in 2016.

Candice will be on stage with Matt Evers, her partner of Dancing on Ice fame during the last series, and they will be doing a joint demonstration called ’Dancing on Icing Sugar’ on Sunday, September 30.

The festival offers a host of interactive demonstrations, artisan food suppliers, hot street food stalls and lots of shopping opportunities.

There will be a dog show by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, many children’s activities by Thomley, demonstrations by the WI at Denman College, plus a large marquee filled with enticing kitchenalia and vintage pieces by Humble Country.

There will be a Festivales bar, botanical gin garden, and a programme of live music on a dedicated stage.

As part of the demonstrations, there will also be the opportunity for meeting the chefs and bakers and possibly even get some book signings, such as Candice’s very first book, Comfort (Ebury Press) which was released in 2017.

Patron and event co-ordinator Lotte Duncan said: “The planning for this year’s event is well underway and we are delighted that Candice will be joining our other lovely chefs and bakers. We are really building on the success of last year and making the event a real destination where people will want to spend the day.”

Two young people from Thame are launching an outdoor cinema event this summer.

Harry King, 22, and Tilly Rand-Bell, 21, are organising a three-day feast of films to be screened at Elms Park during August, with live music, food and drink to create an occasion for the whole family.

The idea was formed when Harry and Tilly enjoyed an outdoor cinema event at Oxford Castle last year and decided to bring the the big screen to Thame.

They have spent the last year planning the event and secured Elms Park for three consecutive evenings, using local businesses wherever possible and also supporting local causes the Red Kite Family Centre and Lord Williams’s School Young Carers.

Harry said: “We think a film should be an experience to share with family and friends, so we have kept the event intimate with live music before and food and drink available all evening. We carefully selected three famous classics which we believe will suit everyone.”

Film-goers will be treated to Slumdog Millionaire on Friday, August 17, Grease on Saturday, August 18 and Back To The Future on Sunday, August 19, with all films starting at 8pm. Gates will open at 6.30pm so there is time to enjoy the live music, grab a drink and find your perfect spot.

Harry, a former student at Lord Williams’s School, runs Exact Cycle, a business which helps people sell their used bicycles, as well having a full time job in marketing.

Tilly studied at Cokethorpe School, Witney, where subjects included media and film. Her lifelong passion for the sea led her to set up her own swimwear brand, Tilia Rose Swim, and she is also studying to become a personal trainer.

Harry added: “We are using our savings to make this event happen, and everything from the planning, to the website, to logistics we have done on our own. We believe with our experience in management and events plus running our own businesses we can create a cinema event Thame can be proud of.

“I thoroughly enjoy putting on events for people. I have done a number of events in the past, but never a cinema.”

For more information and to buy tickets visit www.onboardcinema.co.uk