16/04/10…End of year report by Thame’s mayor

AFTER what she called an amazing year, the Mayor of Thame recalled the highlights of her time in office at Tuesday’s Thame Annual Town Meeting.

It has been a very full year, she said, with something on almost everyday. She recalled the open day at Stones Close allotments, where there are now 35 allotments, where she was shown a marrow heavier than herself!

She told the audience of around 60 local people that the two of the main highlights of her year in office were the opening of the newly built Meadowcroft residential home for the elderly by HRH The Duke of Kent, and the ceremony to award Arthur Staggs an honorary citizenship for his work with the French Resistance during the war, when he was tortured by the Gestapo and survived. She made special mention of her Mayor?s Cadet for the year, 15 year-old Elliott Webb who read out a poem written by Arthur Staggs himself about his life.

Cllr Matelot Green also recalled the fun she had with BBC Presenter, Ken Bruce during the Christmas lights event, and said that the most impressive achievement she had seen during her year was to see Thame Football Club secure a new home and the see the team promoted!

She expressed her hope that the rugby club would go through when they play in the Oxfordshire semi finals tomorrow (Saturday, April 17) and said that she was delighted that the skate park was thriving and had formed its own committee to take the skate park?s future development forward.

The Mayor also mentioned the new library, saying: ?I know that there have been various opinions about the design but the facilities will be the most up-to-date.? She said that she was impressed that Thame market had managed to keep going throughout the recession and that there was only one empty shop in Thame now, compared to many more in both Marlow and Henley.

She mentioned her two charities, Helen Douglas House and Thame Young Carers, who will both benefit from her Civic dinner at the Spread Eagle on Saturday, April 24. She said that she had been surprised to learn that there are 24 young carers at Lord Williams?s school that go home from school and have to look after either a parent or siblings, and as a result, will lose part of their own childhoods. She feared there were others too embarrassed to come forward for help. She thanked the rugby club, Booker Tate and the football club who had all donated money.

The absolute highlight of her year, said the Mayor, was the Four Mayors? Concert at the Cornerstones in Didcot recently, where the four, current lady Mayors in South Oxfordshire performed to raise money for the four towns. She had taken along members of the Thame Youth Theatre which had help ??put Thame on the map!?

She concluded by thanking her husband, James, for his support and encouragement, the Town Clerk, and Rosie Knight for ?keeping me organised on my journey and smiling through!?

PHOTO: The Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green and her Mayor’s Cadet for her mayoral year, Elliott Webb