Call to action to bring ‘little High Street’ to the Thame Show

AS the sun begins to shine, and thoughts turn to warm, balmy days ahead, it’s good to be reminded of some of the highlights to come in Thame’s events calender. One of these has to be the Oxfordshire & Thame Agricultural Show, which returns to its traditional third Thursday in September, the 18th, after a short dalliance with July in 2013, following a two-year sabbatical to take stock after a financially crippling few years.

Thame Show was primarily an agricultural and produce show which took place to coincide with the farming calendar and by returning to September, after public consultation, it will be going back to its roots. However, most people agree that the show needs some sort of injection of new thinking and a Thame Town Councillor has put forward a proposal to bring Thame’s High Street into the Show Ground. Cllr Vaughan Humphries’ clarion call to Thame’s town centre shops and businesses is to go out in the form of a letter in the next few days. In it he writes:

“I have been in discussion with the Show Director, along with 21st Century Thame and other interested parties about a proposal that I hope will breathe some life back into the Show and foster better links with the independent retailers of Thame. 

“What I propose is that we reproduce what is good about Thame town centre and create a ‘Little High Street’ that will form a section on its own.

“What I hope this will achieve is to take advantage of the thousands of people, both local and from further afield to get a taste of what Thame has to offer when the Show is not on. If there were a large number of High Street businesses represented and if we gather momentum now, we can benefit from SODC’s Town and Village Infrastructure Fund, which could potentially pay for capital equipment. There is also a small amount of revenue funding via the Thame Action Plan that could help with other non-capital items of expenditure.

“We can only achieve support from the local authorities if we can show that we have strong support from local retailers, who intend on paying for a stall at the show. If we can get 15-30 businesses to confirm their attendance, this would provide enough evidence of strong support. Thame Town Council also has the capacity to allocate some funding, based on the evidence that there would be significant and sustained benefit for the town centre.

“The Association have offered to extend their 20% discount offer that ends on the 28th March, suffice to say, I am doing my utmost to mitigate any expense you would incur by having a stall, but I really need your support to make it happen!

“Trade stands are from as little as £140 + VAT (less 20% = £134.40) for a 4m wide x 6m deep pitch and electricity connections from £60 + VAT for a double-socket @ 1kW. If you would like an application pack, please do not hesitate to contact the Show Office, who are located at: Suite 3, 55 North Street, Thame, OX9 3BH. Alternatively, you can email them at info@thameshow.co.uk – please put ‘Little High Street’ in the subject header.

“If you are interested in participating in this initiative, please contact me via vhumphries@gmail.com or collect a form from the Town Hall marked for the attention of ‘Councillor Humphries’. If there are any points on which you would like further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me, or if you have any further comments or ideas, please do not hesitate to add it to your reply.” Cllr Vaughan Humphries

ATTRACTIONS for 2014, include a Fun Dog Show, Food And Drink Village, Home & Garden Marquee (Formerly Domestic), Food Hall, a Bakery Display, Shopping & Craft Marquee, Trade stalls, Livestock Classes Sheep / Cattle, Showjumping, Showing Classes, Alpaca Display, Bird Display, Rabbit Display, Vintage Machinery, Lorries & Tractors, Steam Fair, Classic Cars, Morris Dancers, Sheepdogs Display, Falconry Display, Pig Agility, Mules R Us and LOADS more!

Tickets will be available from July. Adult tickets £12 in advance or £15 on the day, Senior Citizen Tickets £8 & £10 on the day, Junior Tickets: 5-15 Years (when accompanied by a paying adult) FREE, Junior Tickets 5-15 Years £4 in advance or £5 on the day, Under 5s Entrance FREE