Thame carnival fun recalls the 1940s

BlazingJune w eather arrived right on call for Thame’s annual Carnival and fete on Saturday, June 10, attracting between two and three thousand residents who came together to enjoy a packed programme of arena events, a dog show and a variety of attractions provided by stalls offering everything from cake, pizza and Pimms, to champagne, cuddly toys, burgers, ice cream, egg races and welly-wanging!

John Hampden School ‘evacuees’ with their specially-made steam engine.

The Carnival was organised once again by a small band of volunteers, mostly members of 21st Century Thame, and committee member, Thame Music Academy’s Simon Markland, was obviously very pleased with outcome. He told Thame.Net: “This years Carnival was a wonderful and sunny event! The parade was spectacular with all the local schools and businesses providing wonderful 1940’s themed floats and costumes. We would like to thank all the participants and congratulate Thame Town Council on winning the ‘Best Parade Entry’ trophy this year!

“As always the stalls, entertainment, food and drink provided for the fete was fantastic and the turnout for the day was huge! Also thanks to all our fantastic entertainment, classic cars, stalls, games and food and drink providers this year!

“We hope to have raised a large amount of money for our charities this year and this is thanks to everyone who came along to support this wonderful community event.

“Finally, thank you to all the hard working volunteers, without whom we would not be able to run the event. See you all next year!”

The winners of the Welly-wanging tournament are due to be published by Racquets Fitness Centre later today (Monday) so visit their facebook page from time-to-time to see who won in the difference categories.

The Thame Carnival Trophy was awarded to Thame Town Council’s carnival entry, depicting all the main characters in the popular and ever-green TV programme, Dad’s Army.

Fete compare, Dan Blazer, presents Thame’s Mayor, Tom Wyse, with the Carnival Cup for best carnival entry

The festival fun continued with a 1940s Dance night, to ‘The Glen Miller’ sound of the Velvet Tones and The Andrews Sisters tribute band, The Sisters of Swing, held in the evening at The Spread Eagle, Thame. Vic Winslade, who plays saxaphone in The Velvet Tones, said: “It was great night and we finished with the crowd calling for more! Lots of money was raised for Sobell House and the Fire-fighters’ charity.”

AS the theme for this year’s carnival was the 1940s, it’s sobering to think about what was happening on June 10, 75 years-ago, in 1940.

In France, German troops crossed the River Seine, and British troops began to evacuate from Le Havre and St. Valéry. Italy declared war on England and France and President Roosevelt made his first speech pledging aid to Britain, in a speech at the University of Virginia, where his son, Franklin Jr., was receiving his degree.

Loads more photos from the carnival parade and fete HERE  – ALL images are copyright of Sonja Francis and may NOT be reproduced without prior consent. email: editor@thame.net