October 2008 Archives

Social Buddies is a fun and friendly group that has been running since September 2007. Members are in the 30 to early 50s age range and live in Middlesex and surrounding areas.

They have a regular pub social on the first Thursday of every month at The Gate, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, from 8.30pm. They also have many other events each month and recently these have included greyhound racing, Jack the Ripper London walk, pub meals, comedy nights, live music, theatre and charity events.

Members are free to submit events and to co-ordinate them or purely come along to planned events.

Membership is currently free.

The webpage is : http://activityexchange.com/SocialBuddiesMiddxArea/

So if you wish to improve your social life and make some new friends, please contact Su at socialbuddies@googlemail.com

AMBITIOUS plans to build a modern eco-friendly house in an area of special character have been granted approval.

The land in Copsewood Way, Northwood, has been the subject of a planning dispute for over two years, and on Tuesday, October 28 Hillingdon Council finally decided to let the project go ahead.

The applicant, Mr Patel, had his previous plans refused on the grounds that the area of special character would be compromised but it was considered that the latest plans were innovative and would actually add to the area.

A petition with 43 signatures and seven letters were lodged against the proposals and were led by Copsewood resident Mr Cave who spoke at the planning meeting.

He said: "We would like to express our concerns that a lovely oak tree is going to be felled, and we could also lose further trees, it is a beautiful site and needs to be treated with great care."
But council planners rejected the objections, agreeing with the applicant that the house would be an asset to Copsewood.

Councillor David Allam, representative for the Yeading ward, said: "It is the best redevelopment of the site you could possibly get, imagine if a block of flats wanted to build there, no thank you. All it loses is one tree, it's better than anything else you are going to get on that site."

Petitioner Mr Cave was not convinced and said: "We are so upset about the decision, we will be watching him like a hawk to make sure he does not cut down any more trees than the one that has been agreed."

RESIDENTS are celebrating after plans to build 'the worst kind of back garden development' were refused.

Proposals to build two semi-detached houses in Green Lane, Northwood, were rejected by Hillingdon Council at a planning committee meeting on October 28 after it was felt they came short of acceptable planning standards on a number of counts.

A petition and 35 letters of objection were lodged against the plans which were refused on the grounds that the building would affect the character of the local area, reduce the sunlight and privacy of neighbouring properties, and that the parking provisions were insufficient.

It was considered that approval would lead to an increase in similar developments in the road, something residents are keen to avoid.

Mr Crowe, chairman of the Bennett Close, Hawes Road, and Kemps Drive Residents Association, spoke at the meeting on behalf of the adjoining residents.

He said: "I'm no planning expert, but the surrounding neighbours totally support the reasons for rejection of this proposal."

Councillor David Allam, representative for the Yeading ward, said: "This is the worst kind of back garden development, the houses themselves look small and cramped, I have no problem refusing this."

His concerns were echoed by councillor Edward Lavery, representative for the Cavendish ward.
He said: "This is an unwelcome back garden development, squashing properties in where there isn't space for them and it just doesn't work."

A TENNIS club has helped to raise £1,000 for the Hillingdon Hospital children's ward.

Excel-Pro Tennis Club in Field End Road, Eastcote, held a 24-hour tennis marathon to raise funds for the Peter Pan ward.

Almost 60 players took part in the event to keep one tennis ball on the court for 24 hours non-stop.

A DRIVER has died after crashing into a brick wall in Northwood Hills.

The 35-year-old man from South Oxhey, Herts, died of multiple injuries on Tuesday at the Royal London Hospital after the crash on October 12 in Joel Street.

He crashed into a wall in front of Northwood Hills United Reformed Church after he appeared to have lost control of his car at a bend near Norwich Road at about 3.40am.

His black VW Golf hit the kerb and rolled over before demolishing the wall.

Two passengers, believed to be in their twenties, were also taken to hospital; one remains in a serious condition and the other was discharged after his treatment.

A post mortem examination will take place later this week.

Witnesses should call the Alperton Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8998 5319.

A PENSIONER who discovered she was a talented runner at the late age of 59 is set to take part in her fourth fundraising marathon.

Raquel Russel Ponte, of The Chase, Eastcote, is running the 26-mile Venice Marathon on Sunday, October 26 to raise funds for the Friends of Michael Sobell House.

The charity supports Michael Sobell House, a hospice based at Mount Vernon Hospital in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, which provides palliative care to terminally ill patients.

The retired 65-year-old, said: "I am doing it for the hospice because two of my best friends were treated there.

"Before they died I promised them I would do something to raise money for the hospice.

"I spent lots of time myself in the hospice helping to look after them and I realised what an excellent job the staff do with next to no money."

Raquel ran her first marathon in 2001 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and has since run two more for the Alzheimer's Society and Cancer Research UK.

She said: "I had no history of running before the first one but the hospital decided to give me a place and I was so grateful, especially at my age.

"I discovered I could run so it became a hobby and I decided I might as well put it into good use and give something back.

"I am going to Venice by myself and I'm running alone, so I am a little bit apprehensive about it because I have never been there before."

Raquel is flying out to Venice on Friday, October 24 and is arriving home on October 30.

To sponsor her email raquel.ponte@yahoo.co.uk

A CHARITY gig organised to remember one of the borough's most famous rock musicians helped to raise £635 for a hospice which helps the terminally ill.

The event was held on October 18 at The Breakspear Arms in Breakspear Road South, Ruislip, to remember, Paul Fox, the guitarist and co-songwriter with The Ruts, who died of cancer on October 21 last year.

There was a donation admission of £1 or £2 and money was collected during the evening for Michael Sobell House, based at Mount Vernon Hospital in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood.

LONG serving staff members of a Northwood nursing home company have been presented with awards for their loyalty.

MD Homes - a company which has four nursing homes in Northwood and one in Harrow - presented 34 members of their staff with certificates and gift vouchers at Northwood Nursing Home in Eastbury Avenue, Northwood, on October 10.

Zena Chan, the operations manager, said: "We do the awards every three years and this was the second one.
"I brought the idea up to the owners and they agreed it was a good idea to show our appreciation to the staff who have been with us for such a long time."

Nurses, carers, and administrative and maintenance staff were given awards for over five years, 10 years and 15 years of service, and four members have even made it to 20 years.

The event was also attended by the partners of the organization, Dr Nizar Merali and Shiraz Merali.

A PIANO recital is being held by a music college professor.

Alexander Ardakov, professor at Trinity College of Music in London, will hold the recital at Emmanuel Church in High Street, Northwood, on Saturday, October 25 at 7.30pm.

He will recite the work of Schumann, Chopin, and Scriabin.

Tickets are £9 with concessions at £7 and admission is free for under 15s

Call 01923 845 200 or email office@ecn.org.uk for tickets.

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help and befriend elderly people who live alone in Northwood.

Northwood Live at Home Scheme was set up 10 years ago to help the elderly remain independently in their homes by befriending them, providing a shopping service and organising outings, lunches, and tea and chat sessions.

Diane Hawksworth, assistant manager of the scheme, said: "We need volunteers to befriend members, assist them with their shopping, and drive them to and from activities to prevent isolation and prevent them from having to go into residential care.

"They may be matched with a member and they can visit them in their homes once a week.

"We also need volunteers to chat to members and serve tea at lunches and tea and chat sessions.

"We have 95 members and 55 volunteers but we need another five to 10 drivers because community transport is not cost affective.

"Volunteers are the core of the group and without them the scheme wouldn't exist.
Marjorie Rackley, 88, of Norwich Road, Northwood Hills, has been a member of the scheme since it was set up.

She said: "I had a hip replacement, I lost my husband, and my eye sight went all in one go so I was on my own. I joined the scheme because of the different places you get taken to and I never miss the tea and chat sessions unless I am ill.

"A volunteer who used to help me now visits me as a friend. They are wonderful and the scheme would fall flat without them."

Volunteers are needed for about two hours a fortnight between 10am and 4pm. For more information call 01923 842 494 or email northwood-lah@btconnect.com.