Midsomer Tours Achieve Best Result Yet for Thame Good Causes!

Thame’s Midsomer Walking Tours have had their best season yet with over 500 people taking the Midsomer tour of Thame during 2019. Many of the proceeds from ticket sales are donated to good causes in Thame, and this year £2,100 was shared between the Mayor’s Chosen Charity, Lord Williams’s School Young Carers, and Thame Museum, a registered charity.  

Thame Museum volunteers received a cheque for £1050 towards the upkeep and maintenance of the museum building and its collections in a presentation made on Wednesday 20th November.

The Mayor of Thame, Ann Midwinter, also received a cheque for £1050 for her Chosen Charity, Lord Williams’s School Young Carers, in a presentation made on Wednesday 27th November.

Tony Long of Thame Midsomer Tours said, ‘We are delighted that the Midsomer Tours continue to be so popular, this year with even more people taking part than ever. As a result, we have been able to donate the highest amount yet to good causes in Thame – 30% higher than in 2018. Altogether, we have raised over £4,000 for good causes in Thame since the tours started in May 2017. We believe the tours also help develop tourism and contribute to the local economy, attracting visitors to the historic town of Thame’. Tony continued, ‘We hope to continue this upward trend, with even more people taking the tour in 2020’.

The tours, each led by one of nine trained volunteers, cover 22 Midsomer Murders filming locations in Thame, as well as historical snippets about the town. Tickets are £7.50 each but the tour guides themselves receive no recompense, preferring to donate most of the ticket income to good causes, with a residue held back to help fund promotional activity.

The Mayor’s Chosen Charity this year is Lord Williams’s School Young Carers, which has over 200 young carers aged 12-18, who care for close family members with a condition or illness, mental health problems, or issues with alcohol or drugs. Young carers are supported by a pastoral support officer (PSO) working with them and their families. Support consists of meetings, time out for games and day trips, educational trips and uniform. The number of LWS Young Carers is increasing each year and they rely on fundraising to be able to provide this support. For more details visit https://www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk/young-carers2.

Thame Museum is a Midsomer filming location, and the starting point for the tours. The tours were derived from an original tour idea developed by museum trustee David Dodds, and are held under the auspices of 21st Century Thame, an organisation bringing together local businesses, community groups and councils to help keep Thame vibrant and viable as a market town. The Museum relies on funding in order to make acquisitions, create and market new events and exhibitions, and maintain the building and its infrastructure. Visit Thame Museum at 79 High Street, Thame, OX9 3AE, or at https://www.thamemuseum.org/

 

Pictured: (TOP) Cheques for £1050 being presented to the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Ann Midwinter – for her 2019 chosen charity ‘Lord Williams Young Carers’, and (BOTTOM) to volunteers from Thame Museum, by the Midsomer tour guides. 

 

Date posted: Thursday 20 December 2018