Thumbs Up for Thame carnival and fete!

HUNDREDS of local families lined Thame’s High Street on Saturday, to watch one of the most colourful and entertaining carnival processions in recent years.

The overall winning entry, judged by the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot-Green, and Thame’s MP, John Howell, was John Hampden School with their walking entry with singing and colourful, hard-hitting message about conserving the planet. Barley Hill school won the walking entry class and Tanya School of Dancing, the the motorised float section.

The floats this year included Racquets Fitness Centre, their entry including a member of the squash club actually hitting a squash ball against a mobile wall being carried by two, very fit fellow members! They were followed by several fitness club members demonstrating in unison, exercises on large, blue ‘Fit’ balls. The Racquets’ team were also celebrating after winning the tug-of-war contest in the main arena at the fete, which followed the procession, on the Southern Road recreation area. There were also four junior tug of war teams competing in the junior challenge.

The Thame Classic Motor Club, which led the parade, behind the fire engine, paraded around the arena, followed by a fire juggler who ‘wowed’ the crowd with his awesome display of fire juggling. Thame United’s goalie was kept very busy keeping out shots from mums, dads and children with his ‘Beat the goalie’ challenge.

The Red Kites scooter club attracted a lot of interest from us ex-mods, conjuring up memories of parkers, desert boots and mass rides to Margate in the early 1960’s.

The Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot-Green, told ThameNews.Net today: “I thought the whole day was marvellous, right from the start with the classic cars leading the parade through the town, and the lovely sight of so many people and especially the children from the three primary schools who had gone to so much trouble with their wonderful costumes!

“And then to arrive at the fete to see so many stalls run by local businesses, charities and community groups – such a heart-warming example of the town coming together.

“It was wonderful to see our twinning friends from Montesson who did so well with their stall and had such demand for crepes, that they had to send off for more fuel for the generator that was powering their hot plate!

“It was such a privalege to wave the flag to start the 24 hour, Classic car club’s tour of the town, which the club ran for charity.

“The whole day was perfect, of course helped so much by the sun which shone over us for the whole afternoon – an unforgettable day!”