Background

Inspired by a suggestion from a Thame resident, Bobby Gallagher, this subject was first raised in a motion to Thame Town Council in February 2008, leading on to an open Public Meeting in February 2009, with the Youth Memorial Garden being completed in September 2009. Serious fund raising commenced in November 2009 and, in just nine months, has already achieved income of over £ 16,500, with a balance on account of more than £ 15,000.

Thame Youth Memorial Trust has also now achieved Registered Charity status, number 1135630, has a web site at www.thameyouthmemorial.org, a Facebook Group ‘Thame Youth Memorial’, a PayPal account for donations, and is registered for Gift Aid.

The Youth Memorial Garden was formally dedicated on a cold Sunday morning in January 2010 with a full road closure, an attendance of more than 200 people, and podium speeches and readings from the Deputy Mayor Nichola Dixon, John Howell MP, David Wybron (Head at Lord Williams’s), Rev Ian Mountford, and Jade Stanley (Trustee) with other dignitaries in attendance including Malcolm Leonard (Chair SODC), Catherine Bearder MEP, and Tony Stratton (Deputy Lord Lieutenant). The speeches from that event can be replayed at here

Media coverage of the charity and its activities has included two reports on BBC South (TV), interviews on Radio Oxford and Mix 96, three front pages and numerous other articles in the Thame Gazette, frequent support from ThameNews.net, and coverage in other local press.