Hazel’s book flying high for air ambulance charity

A well-known, senior resident of Thame has donated funds to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance charity from the sale of her book.

Hazel Bleay, aged 86, has made many friends in Thame since she moved to the town from Oxford in 2005, to be nearer her daughter. Hazel was born and bred in Oxford and was encouraged to write her book Memories of Bygone Oxford Shops, by Malcolm Graham at the Oxford Achives. He quickly became aware of Hazel’s interest and deep personal knowledge of the history of the ever-changing face of retail in the city whenever she visited the archives.

Since it was published by Robert Boyd Publications of Witney, in 2010, 2,000 copies of Hazel’s book have been sold, including one of the most recent, to a couple from Australia who were visiting Thame Farmers Market after taking part in a Midsomer Murders tour of Thame.

Hazel told Thame.net how she happened to notice a man sketching one of Thame’s old cottages in Upper High Street, where she knew the owner. She began chatting to the man about the building, and about her enthusiasm for the history of Oxford’s shops, when the man called his wife over from the Farmers Market and they explained how they intended to visit Oxford the next day, and would love to buy Hazel’s book to help them identify the various old shops of Oxford.

Earlier this week, Hazel presented a cheque for £225 to Thames Valley Air Ambulance charity representative, Tony Coote, at her home in Swan Walk, Thame.

Not a bad achievment for someone who left school at 14 years-old, and has worked as a hairdresser, a telephonist, and for the Ministry of Agriculture, when as a youg woman, she used to travel to Thame to write out the Animal Movement licences on Thame Cattlemarket days.

These days Hazel is an active member of Thame U3A, though her health has stopped her joining in for the last couple of weeks after a fall outside a Thame beauty parlour. But Hazel is determined to get better and continue with her hobby of building model houses and shops, and discovering her family history.

Towersey Festival chosen charity

Ruth Dunkin from Thames Valley AirAmbulance, told Thame.net: “We were delighted to hear that Hazel had raised £225 for the charity from the sale of her book, and were particularly thrilled to also receive a signed copy from her. We are most grateful for the ongoing support from the community in Thame and hope to see many of you at Towersey Festival over the bank holiday weekend where we are the chosen charity for Towersey Festival.

“Do come along please and say hello – we’ll be doing face painting and have a Giant Life Size Operation game too!”

NB ** Anyone who would like to purchase Hazel’s book, can contact her via editor@thame.net.