My mission to save Christmas

STOLEN: Marian with one of the few remaining presents the thieves left behind.

THIEVES have stolen a hoard of fund-raising gift sets bought to benefit schoolchildren.


Marian Read — wife of the Rev James Read — had being buying Christmas presents such as cosmeetics, bath sets and jewellery for the past year, to be sold in a Secret Santa event at St Anne’s Primary School in Royton in the first week of December.

But on Monday yobs cut the padlock on an outhouse at the vicarage, where £1,200 worth of goods were being stored. Though people heard the alarm go off that morning, Marian was away and couldn’t check on the reason.

Marian said: “It is absolutely sickening. They’ve taken about 10 large boxes of stuff. The idea is children bring a few pounds to school and they can choose a present for their parents.

“Every year I give the profits to the PTA and they spend it how they see fit.”

The couple have insurance but can now expect a hike in the premium, as well as having to replace all the gifts.

After an operation on her arm, Marian is unable to drive and is worried she won’t be able to replace the goods.

“It’s really upsetting that people do things like this,” she said.

Anyone with information on the incident can contact local police on 101 or report it to Crimestoppers anonymously. And anyone able to donate a new, unused gift for the school can take it to the vicarage or contact Marian by email at marianrose.read@btinternet.com.