Warning to pensioners

POLICE have issued a warning after two Tring pensioners were targeted by ‘callous’ thieves.
The first incident happened on Tuesday, April 4 when a 76-year-old had to be taken to hospital with head injuries, after falling as her bag was snatched from her on the driveway of her home.
The incident took place in broad daylight as the woman returned home.
She spotted three men in her garden and challenged them.
As they left they snatched her bag knocking her off her feet.
All three men are described as around 20 years-old. The bag-snatcher is believed to be between 5’ 5” and 5’ 8” with short brown hair, clean shaven and wearing a light brown jacket and dark trousers and was described as having a smart appearance.
The second man is described as slightly taller with dark hair. There is no description of the third man.
DC Andrew Roseblade, investigating said: “This was a nasty assault on a vulnerable old lady who was merely returning home.
“Brook Street is not a quiet road and we are hoping that someone may have witnessed the assault, or seen the offenders before or after the incident."
The second incident left a disabled 80-year-old pensioner “shaken and distressed” after her purse was taken from her bag inside the Tesco store on Friday, April 7 between 10.10am and 10.50am.
Investigating officer PC Andy Mellor said: “This is a very callous crime as the victim walks with a stick and would have been struggling with her shopping trolley at the time.
“She did not realise her purse had gone until she came to pay.
“The store was very busy so we are hoping that someone may have seen the victim and possibly the offender.
“We would also like to remind people to be extra vigilant when out shopping and to keep their wallets and purses safe and secure.”
Anyone with any information on either of these incidents should contact the crime desk on 01442 271002.

Mystery surrounds death of pensioner

A TRING pensioner, who had been left dead in her home for some time, is thought to have died from a cardiac condition which caused her heart to suddenly stop beating.
An inquest on Thursday, April 6 heard that 65-year-old Ann Morris was found slumped in a chair at her Kingsley Walk home by police officers on February 14.
She was last seen alive by a family member more than two weeks earlier on January 28.
A paramedic called to the scene confirmed she had been dead for sometime.
Hertfordshire coroner Edward Thomas said: “It was recorded she was found dead on February 14, because we cannot be accurate as to how long someone has been dead for. So what I’m going to put in the circumstances is that she had been dead for a little time. That is all I can say.”
Although the cause of death was recorded as unascertainable Mr Thomas did say that it is possible she could have died from cardo-dysrhythmia or cardo-arrhythmia, a condition where the heart suddenly stops beating, which is thought to be a cause of Sudden Adult Death.
Mr Thomas said: “She did not die from an unnatural cause of death. What I mean is she didn’t die from anything other than a process that would have arisen naturally, i.e she didn’t die from anything like an overdose, but there are sometimes a small percentage of post mortem reports that indicate that they aren’t able to give an exact cause of death. One reason for that is she was probably dead for some time.”
Cardo-dysrhythmia and cardo-arrhythmia leaves no signs of damage to the heart, making it difficult to discover the definite cause of death.
Mrs Morris was found with a partly smoked cigarette and lighter close to her and a half eaten chocolate mousse.
Mr Thomas said: “She would not have felt a thing. She would have died peacefully and that is what happens in this type of death.”
He returned a verdict of death by natural causes.

All aboard the love bus

A LONG Marston couple made their wedding day extra special by treating guests to a ride on a traditional London Routemaster.
Newlyweds Malcolm and Janice Burton followed in the footsteps of well-known celebrities when they tied the knot at the Marylebone Register Office in Westminster.
Paul McCartney married Linda at the same place in 1969, Ringo Starr got hitched to Barbara Bach there and the late actor Sir John Mills tied the knot with wife Mary at the register office.
After their ceremony in February the Long Marston newlyweds and guests hopped aboard a Routemaster bus, which took them on a tour around the capital before dropping them off at an Italian restaurant.
Mr Burton even got a chance to sit in the cab just like a bus driver.
The couple have been together for six years. Mr Burton said: “I asked her to come to dinner a few times and romance blossomed.”
The popular Routemaster was first unveiled in 1954 and introduced to London’s roads in 1956. It was withdrawn from regular service on December 9, 2005.
Mr Burton said: “I’m in my early 60s and I can remember the steam train and some of the old buses. I have always had an interest in things becoming vintage. I have been to a few bus shows.”
The couple spent their honeymoon in Sri Lanka.

Homes plan for water site

PLANS to convert the former Danone site in Aldbury into housing have been submitted to Dacorum Borough Council for a second time.
The latest proposals include plans to convert The old farmhouse and traditional barn into two family homes and change the stable cottage into an annexe.
The remaining buildings on site will be demolished and replaced with six three bedroom semi-detached homes and two five bedroom houses.
Toms Hill House will get a face-lift with a single storey wing containing an indoor swimming pool and garages demolished and replaced with staff accommodation and garaging.
There will be a greenhouse and poolhouse to serve an outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts.
Angel Springs still operates from the site, bottling water and running a water cooler business, but is expected to move in 2008.
An original planning application to develop the land, which was put forward by agent Tempietto Chartered Architects in Berkhamsted, was rejected in January.

More time at hairdressers?

PLANS for new parking restrictions in busy Miswell Lane in Tring will be submitted for formal consultation.
Letters will be sent out in early May detailing the plans to give residents and shop owners the chance to have their say on the proposals.
If the changes are approved the waiting restrictions in the road close to shops will change from a waiting limit of one hour to two hours.
This is to accommodate customers of local hairdressers where treatment
can often last more than an hour.
No waiting restrictions from Monday to Saturday between 8.30am and 6.30pm will be extended from Miswell Lane into Cobbetts Ride to include the frontage of the garages. If the changes go ahead
Dacorum Borough Council will review the restrictions in a year to see if the changes have improved parking
problems.

Tring says bonjour!

Shoppers flock to first continental market

A TASTE of France came to Tring at the weekend.
The first-ever French Market was held at Tring Market Place, Brook Street on Sunday, which saw crowds of people turn out to taste the delicacies on offer.
Visitors could try out some traditional French dishes during the day, including tartiflette, a potato, cheese and meat dish.
Stall holders straight from France offered garlic, olives, french sausages, pastries and cakes for sale on Sunday, April 9.
Organiser from the French market Glenn Dudley said: “It went very well.
“We are certainly going to come back.
“Tring, we found is a good venue. We thought it would be and we are convinced of that now.”
Tring Mayor Mike James said: “We want to get more events like this in the new market place. It is available for other people to use.
“I understand it was very busy all day long.”
This is the first of a programme of events planned for the market site this year.
Year of events A Spring Market will be held on Saturday, May 6 from 9am, where free range meats, home-grown plants, cheeses, local beer, wine and refreshments will be on offer.
There will also be maypole dancing by youngsters from Bishop Wood School, Tring.
A special celebration market marking a year after the refurbished market place was opened will be held on Saturday, September 23.
National Apple Day will be recognised with a market on Saturday, October 21 and there will be a festive Christmas Market on Saturday, December 16.

Museum trip is hit for poets

TRING School students have been presented with prizes for the annual Gerald Massey Lyric Poetry Competition.
The competition was set up by the Tring and District residents’ Association, which disbanded last year.
A special presentation evening was held at Tring Vestry Hall recently with Tring Mayor Mike James giving out the awards.
The theme for this year’s competition was ‘visiting Tring museum’.
First prize was given to Tring School Year Eight pupil Oliver Campbell for his poem called Midnight at the Museum. Oliver received a framed certificate and £75.
Joshua Sowah, from Year 12 and Hugh Dunphy, Year Eight were both highly commended for their poems and received £50 each.
Year 12 student Miriam Swaffield and Year Ten student Catherine Froment were commended and awarded £25 each.
Tring poet Gerald Massey died in 1907.
He was born in a hovel at Gamnel Wharf, Tring and at the age of eight was sent to work in the town’s Silk Mill.

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