Thame groups benefit from Music In the Park grants

THE team behind Thame’s annual Music in the Park, has recently awarded grants to two local organisations. Barley Hill Church received a grant of £250 to help fund Thame’s Christmas Eve “Carols Around the Tree” event, and Thame Concert Band was awarded a grant of £300 to help it boost recruitment and purchase new music.

Cheques were presented to both organisations by Chris Fram, Chair of Music in the Park’s organising committee.

Michael Lindsay of Barley Hill Church said: “We work with other groups such as Thame Concert Band to organise Carols Around the Tree on Christmas Eve, which, every year brings pleasure to some 500 – 600 Thame residents. This grant will help us provide everyone with a glass of mulled wine to help warm them up.”

Marie Bradley, Chair of Thame Concert Band, said: “Thame Concert Band is a community-based wind band which has been a vital part of the local music scene for twenty-five years. We welcome musicians of all ages, from school children to very senior citizens, and of all abilities. This grant will help us increase our recruitment activities and buy some new music.”

Plans for Music in the Park 2018 are well underway and local organisations that meet the criteria will once again be able to apply for grants.

Grants to local organisations

Music in the Park initially directed proceeds from its event to improving the facilities in Elms Park, where the event takes place. Music in the Park contributed to lighting along the path through the park and bought a commemorative bench to help people sit and enjoy the park. In 2016, Music in the Park announced it would also award a limited number of grants to local organisations that have a clear link to Thame or the surrounding area and meet Music in the Park’s key objective of assisting in the provision of facilities in the Thame area in the interests of art, music or recreation, or other leisure time occupation of individuals or organisations that live or operate in the Thame area.

To keep up-to-date with news of Music in the Park 2018, visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/MusicInTheParkThame or website: www.musicinthepark.org.uk