Man abused teenage girl

A LONG Marston man has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenage girl.
Terrence Ockendon, 59, admitted five charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child at St Albans Crown Court on Monday, June 5.
The victim was aged 14 and 15-years-old when the offences, which included touching and kissing, took place between February and October 1998.
Defence barrister Adrian Amer said Ockendon, of Station Road, Long Marston, Tring, was a man of previous good character.
He asked for the probation service to prepare pre sentence reports.
Judge Findlay Baker QC agreed to adjourn sentence saying he wanted the probation officer to "explore all the options available for sentence."
The case will be opened in detail when Ockendon returns for sentence on or after June 26.

Putting the love back into Tring

A NEW calendar dedicated to events in Tring and surrounding villages has been posted to more than 6,000 homes.
The I Love Tring Calendar lists up and coming events until the end of October and can also be used as a normal, day-to-day calendar.
It has been published by Tring Together, a community partnership working with local groups to improve Tring and nearby villages.
It has been posted to 6,500 homes by First Tring Scouts group and extra copies are available from Nash Partnership in High Street, Tring.
Jane Randrup from Tring Together said: “We are really hoping it is a tool people will use and stick to their fridge and refer to.”
The calendar was designed and produced by Tring-based business Image House and covers a whole host of events from school fetes to auctions and market days.
Spanning from May to October, the calendar's popularity will determine whether the group makes another one covering November to April.
Tring Together is working with Tring Information Centre in Akeman Street to make sure all events are covered.
To advertise your event in the next calendar contact Tring Information Centre, which has a ‘town diary' on 01442 823347 and to advertise your business email tringtogether@hotmail.co .
uk or call 01442 828920.

Violence erupts over football stickers

Youth attacks shopkeeper

A WELL-KNOWN Tring shopkeeper was punched and knocked unconscious following a row inside his Miswell Lane store.
Gurnathan Prapaharan has owned the Old Stables convenience store for almost 40 years.
Three youths went into the store to buy World Cup stickers, because a nearby shop had sold out on Friday, May 26.
An argument flared up when one of the boys grabbed some packs of stickers and threw money onto the shop counter.
Mr Prapaharan said he asked for the stickers back so that he could check how many they had taken. He said they refused to hand over the stickers and then left the store.
It is alleged that when Mr Prapaharan went outside the family-run shop to sort out the newspapers one of the youths punched him on the jaw knocking him unconscious.
Mr Prapaharan said: “I didn't realise they were waiting outside for me.
“He hit me hard in the jaw and I fell down unconscious.”
A passing customer called an ambulance and Mr Prapaharan was taken to hospital to be checked over. He was released on the same day.
Since the attack the well-liked shopkeeper has had many good wishes from concerned customers.
Mr Prapaharan said: “Most of the customers have come in and sympathised. A lot of customers think it is such a shame. They are very supportive.
“It has been a shock for a lot of people.”
This is not the first time that Mr Prapaharan has become victim to abuse. He said over the past 40 years, occasionally people have hurled verbal abuse at him and he has also been pushed.
He said: “This sort of thing happens, but this is the first time someone has hit me. I have had abuse before, a couple of times I have been punched, but this is the worst thing that has happened.
“It is such a nice area and most of the time people are very nice. It is such a shame.”

You're in the army now!

EMERGENCY rations were on the menu for Tring School pupils during a special army training day.
Army officers were drafted in to teach survival skills, Army fitness, problem solving skills and the importance of team work.
Tring School student Lucy Mitchell said: “All the rations had to be soaked in water and were really disgusting.”
The activity day put the teenagers through their paces and saw them master how to cross an obstacle by making bridges using just two barrels and a plank of wood.
Gary Lynch, co-ordinator of careers and work experience at Tring School, said: “There was a real buzz from the day and lots of good comments at the end of the day about how the students got an insight into the army and what they do.
“A lot of them were challenged by the activities. They learnt a lot of key skills, which would apply to any workplace.”
School student Nick Bunn said: “Trying on the Army gear was really heavy, you could hardly stand up wearing a back pack, gun, rocket launcher and grenade belt.”

Homecoming
for winning Clive

AWARD-WINNING top cop Clive Porter will be pounding the pavement when he joins police officers in Tring later this month.
The 47-year-old police constable will be patrolling the streets getting to know local faces and has pledged to make Tring a safer place to live. 
PC Porter will take up his post at Tring Police Station from Tuesday, June 20.
At the moment he is based in Berkhamsted.
He said: “I will hopefully be patrolling Tring on foot - getting out and about on foot, so I actually meet the public and talk for a change.”
Originally from Essex, PC Porter has been a policeman for 28 years.
He was presented with a commendation award last month for his work on a murder investigation called Operation Sphinx.
It followed the murder of David King in October 2003. Mr King had been leaving a gym in Hoddesdon, Herts with a friend when two men passing in a van unleashed a hail of gunfire in their direction.
Mr King died almost instantly, his friend needed hospital treatment, but survived. 
PC Porter will also be cracking down on nuisance behaviour in Tring.
He said: “I'm told one of the problems in Tring is nuisance youths so I will be trying to concentrate on that, but on the whole I would like to make Tring a safer place if I can. I have a vested interest.”
The dedicated bobby has lived in Tring for about 20 years and lives with wife Sharon and 18-year-old daughter Leonie.
He plans to talk to troublesome youngsters to try and combat antisocial behaviour in the town, which has seen Tring Crime Prevention Panel issue leaflets telling residents what to do if they become victims of nuisance behaviour. 
PC Porter said: “I think it's important to get into a dialogue with the youngsters. Sometimes you can get through by just making them see that what they are doing is wrong and to understand the consequences of what they do.”

Setting up shop

THE name of the major retailer due to move into the former Tring Budgens site is expected to be announced within weeks.
The site in Dolphin Square will be converted into three retail outlets with one expected to be a food store.
Andrew Smith, for the owners of the site, the Lear Group, said an announcement should be made later this month.

Flower flop forces new show date

THIS summer Pendley Manor in Tring will not play host to a flower show because of disappointing crowd numbers.
Bosses have decided to move the date of the flower show from August to March in a bid to boost visitors.
Pendley Manor Hotel manager Michael Tadros said: “The exhibitors said we didn't have enough visitors, because it is the time of year when many families are away on holiday.”
He said the event drew in crowds of up to 10,000 people - but twice that number is  desired
The flower show sees top judges from the Chelsea Flower Show rank flower displays and has even had green-fingered Ground Force star Charlie Dimmock visit.
The next Pendley Manor Flower Show will be held in March 2007.

Meat-free restaurant step closer

PLANS for the first vegetarian restaurant in Tring have been backed by Tring Town Council.
An application to change a shop in High Street, Tring into a restaurant has been recommended for approval by the town's councillors.
David Metcalfe wants to set up a vegetarian restaurant at the former New England House Antiques shop.
He plans to grown his own organic vegetables to be used in recipes and has already been given permission for polytunnels in Metcalfe's Field in Station Road.
These special tunnels will allow him to grow vegetables all year round.
During a Tring Town Council planning meeting on  May 22 councillors voted to recommend the application for approval on grounds of sustainability, using local produce and helping to reduce delivery traffic in the town.
A final decision will be made by Dacorum Borough Council.

Survey shows 66 per cent want more rural housing

A SURVEY has revealed that many living in the Tring Rural Parish area would support a local affordable housing scheme.
A total of 577 forms were sent out to homes in Long Marston, Wilstone, Puttenham and Little Tring, with 175 completing and returning forms.
70 per cent of respondents to the housing needs survey by the Rural Housing Trust said they would support affordable housing, 26 per cent remained opposed to any such scheme and four per cent chose not to complete this section of the survey.
Results showed that most have lived in Tring Rural Parish for more than 10 years.
66 per cent wanted to see additional housing, while 33 per cent were opposed to any new developments and one per cent of respondents did not express a preference.
The Rural Housing Trust is a charity that works in partnership with parish councils to ensure developments are designed to meet the housing needs of local communities.
Results of the survey have been released just weeks after Wilstone villagers teamed together to sign a petition against a possible housing development on land next to Buckingham Cottage in Tring Road, Wilstone.
190 villagers signed the petition, which was presented to Cllr Derek Townsend, a member of Dacorum Borough Council's development control committee.
The site has not yet been earmarked for affordable housing but locals fear it could be in the near future.
The housing survey showed that in eight responding households there is a current housing need and in 17 households it was indicated that there would be a housing need within five years.
Of all of the responses, six households said they knew of a family member, currently living away from Tring Rural Parish, now looking for accommodation in the area.
Jean Fox, area programme manager for the Rural Housing Trust, said: “We had a positive response to the survey and identified at least 20 households in need of affordable housing in the parish.
“The trust is continuing to work with Tring Rural Parish Council to further a local needs housing scheme and is currently in the process of identifying possible sites for development.”
The Rural Housing Trust says a local needs housing scheme of between six to eight properties, with a mix of two and three bedroom homes would go some way in meeting the needs of the villages revealed in the survey.
Tring Rural Parish Council will be investigating possible sites for housing development.

Inmates to
repent for your pleasure

A SPECIAL fundraising performance of the first ever stage version of Porridge will be held at the Court Theatre, Pendley, Tring.
The show by Ian Gower and Rob Alderton will donate the total of all tickets sold on Saturday, June 24 to the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home.
Tickets cost £10 for the special gala performance, which will start at 2.30pm.
For ticket details please call the fundraising team on 01442 890222.
Porridge will be showing at the Court Theatre from June 20-24. Tickets cost £9 to £12, curtain goes up at 7.30pm. Call the Court Theatre box office on 01442 824673.

Crafty funding for hospice

A CRAFT Extravaganza will be held by Tring Churches in aid of the Hospice of St Francis on Saturday, June 17.
There will be craft demonstrations, workshops, craft stalls and Peruvian jewellery and paper craft.
During the day there will be exhibitors selling handmade goods and craft supplies and demonstrations on scrapbooking, lace making, sugar craft and much more.
The Craft Extravaganza will be held in the Victoria Hall, Akeman Street, Tring from 10am to 4.30pm.

Festival features classic comedy

ONE of the highlights of this year's Tring Festival will be the first ever stage version of the popular TV series Porridge.
It will be showing at The Court Theatre, Pendley from Tuesday, June 20 to Saturday, June 24.
It follows the success of Dad's Army and last summer's hit, It Ain't Half Hot Mum. Tring man Ian Gower and his team have got together once again to bring the popular TV series to the big stage, and special permission has been granted by original Porridge writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais for Ian Gower and co-writer Paul Carpenter to adapt the series.
Tickets cost from £9-£12. Curtain goes up at 8pm, matinée 2.30pm.
Tring Festival Company is supporting the Iain Rennie Hospice At Home with a Porridge gala performance at the Saturday matinée. All money raised through ticket sales, (tickets £10), will be donated to the hospice.
This year's festival kicked off with a trip down memory lane and nostalgic music from the 1940s in We'll Meet Again last weekend.
It's the 29th Tring Festival at The Court Theatre and features a range of acts which cater for the whole family between now and Friday, July 14.
A Show of Hands perform at the theatre on Friday, June 9. Steve Knightley and Phil Beer are well known as the finest acoustic roots duo in England and have built up a huge following, which has seen them sell-out the Albert Hall twice, so it is no surprise that tickets for the Tring show have already sold out.
Youngsters will be enchanted by Alice in Wonderland, which is being performed from Tuesday, June 13 until Saturday, June 17. A talented cast of young actors make this production a real treat and one that will keep young eyes glued to the stage from start to finish.
Tickets cost from £7 to £10. Curtain goes up at 7.30pm and the Saturday matinée starts at 2.30pm.
The multi-award winning Aylesbury Music Centre Dance Band will be performing with international soloists in the Big Band Special on Sunday, June 25.
The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £14, (£12 concessions).
During the Fringe Week - Monday, June 26 to Thursday, June 29 - there will be Irish Dancing (June 26), Radio Comedy Revue (June 28), Youth Bands (June 29) and Thin Lizzy tribute band, Limehouse Lizzy (June 30).
An uproarious, bawdy musical, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, will be shown from Tuesday, July 4 to Saturday, July 8. The story follows a hectic day in the life of Pseudolus, a liar, a blackmailer and a slave, who will stop at nothing to win his freedom.
The curtain goes up at 8pm, Saturday matinée, 2.30pm. Tickets £10-£13.
A fantastic jazz experience is on offer when Claire Martin sings with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett on Sunday, July 9. The two trade vocal performances while Sir Richard plays piano. The concert starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £17.50, £16 concessions.
The festival finale is with The Big Bear Stompers on Friday, July 14. The show starts at 8pm and tickets are £9, with £8 concessions from the box office on 01442 824673.

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