Anti-Elms group calls for theatre supporters to wear yellow

A Thame group petitioning against any development on land known as The Elms, is using a planned outdoor Shakespeare event to gain support for their cause.

The ‘Save the Elms’ banner on display during the Thame Carnival

The group is urging residents to go and see the site for themselves by attending the Thame Players production of Much Ado About Nothing, to be hosted in the grounds next week, and are asking all supporters to wear something yellow to show their support

The Elms Petition Group is giving its full support to the forthcoming outdoor production hoping that it will increase the awareness of exactly what the group fears will be lost, if The Elms is developed into a housing estate. It wants those attending to wear something yellow, such as a t-shirt, jumper, ribbon, socks or for the more adventurous, yellow trousers.

Speaking on behalf of the group, local resident Peter Webb said: “We are delighted to see The Elms is being used for a public performance such as this. We thoroughly commend the current custodian of The Elms, Simon Vickers for opening up the grounds of his retirement home to the people of Thame in the same spirit that previous custodians including Leonard Purser have done before.

“The Elms was previously owned by local entrepreneur Leonard Purser, whose family eventually sold The Elms to Simon Vickers, owner of development company, Rectory Homes, in 2010. For decades during the mid 1900, The Elms grounds, including the field was opened up to the residents of Thame for an annual Fete. The rest of the year, the field was used by local farmers as pastureland for grazing their livestock. This practice has now ceased.”

Mr Webb went on to say: “The groundswell of support opposing the development of The Elms has never been greater and this is an ideal opportunity for the town to see exactly what it is going to be lost if development goes ahead. We encourage all town residents and friends to support their local theatrical group by attending this production but we ask that you wear something yellow to show your support to save The Elms.”

Any member of the public can sign the Elms Petition by using the online petition at Change.org, by sending an email to: elmspetition@hotmail.co.uk, by signing in person at Petcare in Cornmarket, Thame, or by phoning the Elms Petition Hotline on 01844 555112.

For more information please contact: Peter Webb – 01844 212057
Website: http://www.elmspetition.org.uk/ 

Petition: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/thame-town-council-sodc-reject-all-development-of-elms-field-in-thame-oxfordshire
Twitter: @elmspetition

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elmspetition

Much Ado About Nothing is being performed in the grounds of The Elms from July 8-12.
Tickets for the production are available online http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/56135
NB The Elms Petition Group has no official connection to Thame Players.

Elms Petition Group
The Elms Petition group has stated that it has collected over 1200 signatures across a paper based petition, email petition and the online petition at change.org, 99% of which are Thame residents.