June 2009 Archives

A PETITION containing almost 1,000 signatures has been handed into Hillingdon Council opposing a scheme that gives privileges to the borough's residents.

Residents of Eastbury, an area in Three Rivers next to Northwood, presented the 920-signature petition to the council on Monday (29).

They are against the Hillingdon First card scheme because they are being excluded from it, even though they shop in Northwood.

It means they now have to pay twice the amount to park in the borough and they do not get discount being offered by some shops.

Elizabeth Willetts, chairman of Eastbury Residents' Association, said: "When we started the petition we didn't know about the discount in shops, so we have just asked the council to get rid of the extra parking charges."

Go to http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/hillingdonfirst to find out more about the scheme.

A TALENTED group of master spellers from a boys' school have proved they are the best in the country by winning a national competition.

Four pupils from St Martin's School, in Moor Park Road, Northwood, beat off more than 780 schools to win The Times Spelling Bee championship.

After winning their first heat back in April and sailing through the semi-finals in May the team went on to win the title at the Grand Final, held at the Odeon in Leicester Square last Tuesday.

The team was made up of 12-year-olds Jonah Surkes, Prahalad Prasasd, Dylan Amin and Gordon Hao and they were assisted by their English teachers Linda Crook and Linda Dannenberg.

Jonah said: "We would like to thank The Times for giving us such a brilliant opportunity, as well as our English teachers for giving up their time to support us.

"We are over the moon at winning the Spelling Bee. We never expected to get into the finals, let alone to win the whole competition."

Mrs Crook said: "The whole school supported our Spelling Bee team and all of our Year 7 watched the competition. We are very proud of the boys. They loved every moment of the Spelling Bee and we have enjoyed working with them.

"They enjoyed a very busy day yesterday (Wednesday) when they were interviewed by The Times, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio Five Live, Asian Network and The One Show."

The team won trophies, dictionaries and the chance to edit the Young Times section of The Times.

They gained a massive 115 points to win the title spelling words like cannonade, fluorescent, accretion and contemporaneous correctly to win.

The runners-up were a school from Wiltshire who managed to get 98 points.

A DISRESPECTFUL teenager who spat at a ticket booth and threatened a tube worker has been fined.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after spitting and threatening a staff member at Eastcote tube station.

Aidan Harris, manager of London Underground's Workplace Violence Unit, said: "The youngster asked for a child rate travel card but did not have any form of identification and was advised he would have to purchase an adult ticket.

"He then became abusive and left the station, only to return shortly afterwards to threaten the ticket seller and spit at the window of the ticket booth."

The youth from Northwood was tracked down through DNA following the incident on March 11 this year.

Staff used a DNA spit kit available at the station to collect the spittle and contacted the British Transport Police (BTP) who sent it for forensic testing. Results showed a DNA match and the teenager was arrested.

He was fined £50 at Harrow Youth Court on June 9 and ordered to pay £23 compensation to his victim.

Mr Harris said: "Hopefully this fine will make this youngster reconsider his actions in the future, especially as spitting is a foul habit and not something we will tolerate towards our staff."

PC Andrew Williams, of British Transport Police, said: "The fact that the member of staff retained the evidence, despite what had just happened, was crucial since the youth's DNA on the tissue allowed us to place him at the crime scene.

"Why he felt he had the right to spit at a member of staff who was simply doing his job is inconceivable. I hope that his conviction and sentencing sends out the clearest possible message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated."

BANDS and music groups from a girls' school are putting on a concert at a church.

Students from St Helen's School, in Eastbury Road, Northwood, will perform at Emmanuel Church, in High Street, Northwood, on July 2 at 7pm.

A number of groups, including the jazz and concert bands, the saxophone quartet, flute groups, the wind band and the St Helen's Singers will all be performing in the concert.

Robert Crowley, director of music at the school, said: "We have a lively and thriving music department at St Helen's and this is a great opportunity to come along and hear some excellent, varied performances. The girls are rehearsing hard in preparation for the concert and are looking forward to the evening.

"This is just one of a series of concerts outside school that we are organising, giving the girls the opportunity to perform in front of a wider audience. Our next performances will be in October when we will be touring Holland, playing in a number of venues in the country."

The audience will be treated to a variety of styles of music at the concert on July 2 and all are welcome to attend.

Entry is free with a retirement collection in aid of Montgomery Heights Orphanage in Zimbabwe.

A BOOK scheme has been launched to help people with mental health issues.

Hillingdon Council has teamed up with Hillingdon PCT to launch the Better with Books scheme which aims to help residents with mild to moderate mental health issues.

The scheme offers General Practitioners (GPs) the opportunity to prescribe self-help guides, available from the borough's libraries, to their patients.

Many people are reluctant to use medication for emotional problems and the project was put together to offer an alternative treatment for people where medication would usually be the only form of help available.

The scheme is based on 40 books which have been chosen by clinical psychologists and cover subjects such as depression, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders and stress.

The scheme was launched at Mountwood Surgery, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, in partnership with Northwood Hills and Oaklands Gate libraries and after the initial pilot it will be rolled out across the borough.

Dr Sabby Kant, a GP at the Mountwood Surgery, said: "Mental health problems can have a huge impact both on the sufferer as well as their close family and friends.

"Although medicines can play a key part, there is no doubt in my mind that what works best is tackling the problem through a variety of strategies such as family support, counselling and other talking therapies.

"The Better with Books scheme adds another powerful strategy for the sufferer and their family. I am hoping that for many it will open up a whole new world of increased knowledge, confidence and self-empowerment."

Councillor Philip Corthorne, cabinet member for adult social care, health and housing, said: "It is hoped that by referring patients to books, residents will be able to begin to understand their thoughts and make sense of their problems at their own pace rather than having to rely on medication."

PHOTOS of glowing orbs published in the Gazette last week have prompted residents to phone in with suggestions of what they think they were.

The photo was sent in by Loraine Wiley after she spotted them near her home in Beechwood Avenue, Ruislip, on May 31.

Maggie Daly, of Chichester Avenue, Ruislip, also saw three lights in the sky on Saturday night (20).

She said: "I reckon they are Chinese lanterns. I spoke to a Chinese couple who live near me and they said they fit the bill."

Martin Holland, of Cranbourne Road, Northwood Hills, confirmed this theory.

He said: "The floating orbs was a Chinese lantern. It must have been because I let one go on the same night at at about 10pm and it went towards Ruislip Woods.

"Someone gave it to my wife a few months ago and we were waiting for a warm evening to let it go."

Hubert Ross, a 98-year-old scientist from Ickenham, first thought they were helicopter search lights.

He said: "I watched the news and now I believe they were fragments from space because two satellites collided.

"I don't think people should make up stories about UFOs because it frightens children unnecessarily."

A FLOWER show with a summer theme is being held in Northwood.

Ruislip Northwood Flower Arrangement Society is presenting a demonstration of flower arranging by area demonstrator, Jackie Watson, entitled 'Summer in the Garden' on July 7.

It is being held at St John's Church Hall, in Hallowell Road, Northwood, at 7.30pm.
Call 01923 829 621 for more information.

A BIKE show is being held at a Northwood pub to raise funds for charity.

The annual show is now in its fourth year and this year it is in aid of Kids About, a charity for children and young people with disabilities.

It is being held at The Gate pub, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, on Saturday (27).
It starts at midday and finishes at 6pm and bikes must be entered by 3pm for the judging at 4pm.

There are eight categories in the competition, including best paint and best Harley, and all the category winners will receive prizes.

Other attractions at the event will include a hog roast, a bucking bronco, stalls and a tombola.

A MAN has been charged with indecently assaulting two children at an independent boys' school in Northwood.

Michael David Cole, 45, has been charged with six counts of indecently assaulting two boys under the age of 14 at St Martin's School, in Moor Park Road, between January 1, 1990 and January 1, 1992.

He has also been charged with 16 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child at his home in South Wales in June last year.

He is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court today (Tues).

A MAN charged with raping a 15-year-old girl has been found not guilty.

Wayne Lawrence Chuter, of Joel Street, Northwood Hills, was found not guilty of raping the girl in High Street, Uxbridge, on January 2 this year.

He was also found not guilty of sexual activity with another 15-year-old girl in Recreational Park, Northwood, on January 2.

The jury reached their verdict yesterday (Mon) after a week long trial at Harrow Crown Court.