‘Mr Thame’ Is Honoured After Forty Years

A Thame councillor has become only the third person ever to be granted the freedom of the town.
Councillor David Dodds had the title of Honoury Citizen officially confered upon him by the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, at a surprise party on Tuesday.
David, who is a retired Headmaster, has been involved in town politics for 40 years and been mayor eight times. In a speech in his honour, fellow long-time councillor, Don Butler spoke of David Dodds’: “forty years of devoted service and outstanding contribution to the Civic Life of the town, serving the Urban, Town and District councils.”

Old friends, colleagues and councillors joined David and his wife, Jenny, for a celebration at the Barns Centre, where tributes were paid in respect of his hard work, dedication and forward thinking for the town over the last 40 years, all of which had contributed to shaping Thame into the flourishing town it is today.

Councillor Ann Ducker, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, read out a personal, congratulatory message from local MP, Boris Johnson, who referred to Councillor Dodds as ?Mr Thame?.

Photo: David Dodds and his wife Jenny, with the beautiful bouquet presented to her at a party to celebrate David’s forty years involvement in the political life of Thame.