Author: Sonja Francis

JAN UNDERY (nee Surman) was killed in a road traffic collision near Great Milton on 21 October 2009. Her family have released the following tribute:

Jan will be remembered by many for her outstanding musical talents, equally at home with the classics, sacred music, musicals or folk music. However, to her family and friends it will be her loving nature and natural vivacity that will be missed.

She started singing at the age of eight in Aston Rowant church choir, later developing her talents for signing and art at Lord Williams?s school, where she was frequent performer in school productions. After A levels she studied at Trent Park College in North London, qualifying with a Diploma in Higher Education. Her singing talents were further developed by professional mentoring.

On returning to Oxfordshire she decided to follow her childhood ambition and enrolled as a student nurse at Stoke Mandeville hospital. It was during this time that she met and became engaged to David Undery who was then a widower with two young children. She put her career on hold to marry him and help bring up the boys. This also meant following his career moves to Hampshire, Somerset and Devon. Music continued to play a large part in her life with many charity concerts including a week at the Kings Theatre in Southsea in Carmen.

Whilst in Devon, with the boys growing up, Jan and David had two children of their own, Tom, now 19 and working in the City and Sarah, now 17 and a student at Lord Williams?s in Thame.

When the family returned to Oxfordshire in 1993 they suffered the loss of David?s son Mark from meningitis and Jan was a tower of strength to David. To help the family she returned to nursing and qualified as an RGN initially working at Stoke Mandeville. Later she gained a BA (Hons) in Practice Nursing and became the Practice Nurse at Kennington. She then moved to ChristChurch in Oxford as the College Nurse.

Music was still an important part of her life and she sang with St. Mary?s in Thame and at a number of concerts mainly in Great Milton and Keble College, Oxford.

Jan was also a talented artist as well as a musician but will always be remembered as a lively and animated person who was never less than immaculate in her performances, appearance and looks. She is survived by her husband David and their children Tom and Sarah plus David?s son Paul and his wife Lotta and their children Lillian and Amelia. Her own family, particularly her brothers, Richard, Malcolm, Robert and Philip and their families are also mourning her loss.

The funeral will take place at St. Mary?s in Thame at 12 noon on Friday 6th November, followed by a private burial in Crowell and a reception at the Rose and Thistle in Haddenham. Family flowers only, please, but donations, which will be split between Meningitis UK and Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance can be made to Surman and Horwood, The Green, Crowell.

FOUR people have been arrested following an armed car-jacking at the Welcome Break Services near Thame, on Saturday night (24/10/09).

The arrests, which include a 15 year-old male, were made in High Wycombe, and the stolen silver BMW 118D SE one series, was recovered by police.

The four men, aged 15, 21, 22 and 22 have been released on bail until 7 December.

Thames Valley Police is still appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and speak to officers.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Jon Shaw via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505, or alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Photo: Courtesy of www.geograph.org.uk

THAME NEIGHBOURHOOD UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 2009: Local News: The Thame Neighbourhood has seen an increase of distraction type burglaries, and theft from motor vehicles, especially near schools at picking up time.

Please can I remind everyone to ensure that any suspicious callers, vehicles or anything which causes you concern is reported immediately to Thames Valley Police and that all valuable items are removed from your vehicle and that you have taken every realistic precaution to secure your vehicle.
Please contact the Police on the non emergency number 0845 8 505505 should you have anything to report.

Thame Neighbourhood PCSOs have been patrolling the schools during these times to provide a Police Presence and reassurance; please do not hesitate to speak with us if you have any concerns.

UNDERAGE DRINKING

During 2009, the Thame Neighbourhood policing team will continue to tackle Anti Social Behavior and underage drinking by running Operation MUNITIONS. This also includes ways to tackle underage drinking, the effects and issues surrounding this within the community and to take positive action on any person displaying anti social behavior or drinking underage or drinking in a public place.

HALLOWEEN AND FIREWORK NIGHT NOV 5TH

This initiative is on-going and will continue throughout 2009, especially with Halloween and Bonfire Night fast approaching. Thame Neighborhood Team will also take positive intervention with any offenders. This is to support the local residents and to prevent Anti Social Behavior, including environmental standards.

Reminder: There are “No Trick or Treat” posters available from Thame Town Hall, Money Spinner, Thame Town Library and other local community outlets to display in your window to avoid being disturbed by unwanted callers on the 31st October 2009, during HALLOWEEN.

SPEED ENFORCEMENT & ROAD SAFETY

The Thame Sector Neighbourhood Policing Team has access to the SID (Speed Indication Device). During 2009, the SID will be used in numerous locations around Thame on a regular basis. Anyone who breaks the speed limit will have their vehicle details taken and this information will be forwarded to our Roads Policing Department. First time offenders will receive a warning letter. We will continue to deploy the SID across the area on a frequent basis.

We have conducted an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) operation this month in Thame and Chinnor. The ANPR mobile system is a tool which reads vehicle number plates and checks them against various databases such as the Police National Computer and the DVLA. ANPR is designed to make it much more difficult for criminals to commit crime, without being detected. During this operation we had some hits, which were logged on the system and appropriate action will be taken. This also was an excellent speed deterrent. There will be further ANPR Operations within the Thame and Chinnor Neighborhood during the forthcoming months.

COMMUNITY & SAFETY ENGAGEMENT

During October, I attended the monthly Anti Social Behavior meeting which was chaired by PC Bob STEEL. We discussed particular local young people that had come to our attention, Acceptable Behavior Contacts and the new Drink Banning Orders.

I also conducted my regular Site Inspections with the SOHA Housing Association and A2 DOMINION. These are done regularly to ensure that residents are adhering to their tenancy agreements. The local area is also assessed regarding upkeep and to minimise fly tipping.

SHOP LIFTING

One day during the week we had a report of a shop lifter in the High Street Area. The offender was identified by CCTV and a local Officer which led to the offender receiving an

A PCSO based in Thame and Chinnor, has been voted PSCO of the year by the community she serves.

PCSO Jackie Madden has been instrumental in reducing anti-social behaviour, particularly in Chinnor where she mainly works.

A very proud Jackie, who has been a Police Community Support Officer for four years, was personally thanked by one Chinnor resident, who had moved there from London, and who told Jackie that she had restored her faith in the police after Jackie worked to retrieve her son’s lost scooter.

“It’s great to realise that the police do actually listen and will do something if they are contacted,” said the resident.

Jackie Madden herself told ThameNews.Net: “Even though I have personally been presented with this award, I would not have been able to do anything without the help and support of my fellow officers; we work as a team and so I feel this is recognition of that team work.”

Jackie was presented with her crystal trophy and certificate by Chief Constable, Sarah Thornton, at a special ceremony at Drayton Park Golf Club.

A PUPIL of Lord Williams’s school in Thame has won First place in a National dancing competition.

Gemma Strathdee, 15, who lives in Chinnor, won the Under 16’s Silver/Gold Disco, Freestyle Pairs Competition at the National Grand Finals Disco Medallist Festival Competition on October 11, 2009, held at Guildford Spectrum. Gemma and her partner, Melissa Mairs from Stokenchurch, danced through four heats to gain their 1st Place. Gemma also danced solo through three heats and gained a third place in the Under 16’s Silver Disco Solo Freestyle Competition.

Gemma has danced with the Shona Clack School of Dance, based in Princes Risborough, since she was seven years old and has also recently started to attend classes in Thame. She dance or trains four nights of the week.

Today Gemma told ThameNews.Net: “I was shocked to win; it’s so difficult to even get to the competition and to win is just amazing.”

Gemma’s classes include ISTD Disco, Rock and Roll, Latin American and IDTA Ballet and Tap, and she has taken examinations in Disco, Rock and Roll and Latin American every year since she began dancing.

Apart from examinations, Gemma competes at the ISTD Disco Freestyle Faculty Regional Competitions throughout the year to try to qualify and gain a place at the National Grand Finals Disco Medallist Festival Competition. This year was the second year she qualified, by gaining a first place at the Regional Compeititon in Chippenham.

Talented Gemma also dances with her dance school at local fetes, including Longwick Fete and Oakley Fete, and takes part in their Christmas Show in December.

In July this year, 2009, she took part in her school Work Experience week by joining Shona Clack at the Dance School for a week, and following this was awarded Lord Williams’s School Gold Award and Special Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the school and the work placement.

Gemma’s ambition is to eventually become a dancing teacher herself.

Photo: Gemma (right) and her partner, Melissa (left) in their costumes which they designed themselves. Gemma’s mum sewed all the Sworoski crystals on the outfits!