August 2009 Archives

AN APPLICATION for a block of flats described by the planning officer as one of the worst schemes he has seen in his 25 years in planning has been refused.

The proposed plans for a three storey building containing nine flats at 140 and 142 Green Lane, Northwood, were refused at the north planning committee yesterday (27).

A petition bearing 36 signatures and 13 letters of objection were also sent to Hillingdon Council objected to the proposal.

Councillor John Oswell, one of the committee members, added to the planning officer's criticisms by describing it as an 'absolutely appalling application'.

A SUCCESSFUL and devoted charity that has raised almost half a million pounds for a cancer centre has finally called it a day after 20 years.

Friends of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) decided to go out with a bang with a final cheque presentation of £44,512 towards chemotherapy pumps for the centre.

Chairman of the charity, David Brooke, presented the group's final cheque to Williams, general manager for cancer services, and consultant clinical oncologist Dr Peter Ostler, at a special get-together on Monday (24).

Mr Brooke said: "It's a sad day and we all have lots of fond memories but it just had to be done.

"The amount of donations was dropping away and my wife and I then decided to move away from the area.

"Underneath all this was the thought that we didn't want it to just dwindle away. We wanted to go out with a big final cheque and we've definitely done that.

"We've had a fantastic time and raised over £440,000 without taking anything away for admin costs.

"In this day and age when you get fundraisers earning £30k a year and we do it for nothing you know it's a pretty special thing."

The event, held in the board room of the cancer centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, marked the end of two decades of dedicated fundraising by the group.

The team have organised a variety of events over the years but perhaps will be best remembered for the golf days, which alone raised over £80,000.

They have bought everything from carpets and furniture to state-of-the art brachytherapy equipment to tackle prostate cancer.

Mrs Williams said: "The Friends of MVCC have been true friends to the staff and patients of our service. I have a great deal of admiration for the hard work and dedication they have put into the fundraising over the years.

"The committee has been a small but loyal band of supporters offering up views and opinions as well as funds.

"I will miss them personally and I know the cancer centre will miss their contributions to our service."

GCSE results have improved at Northwood School due to the hard work of the students and teachers.

The five or more A*-C grades including English and Maths pass rate rose by 12 points to 34 per cent and the number of students who achieved five or more A*-C grades overall was 56 per cent.

Graeme Atkins, the new principal of the school in Potter Street, Northwood Hills, who has recently taken on this role as part of the new Queensmead/Northwood Federation, congratulated students and their teachers, but sees this improvement as a 'first step'.

The Federation between the two schools cements a relationship whereby teachers from Queensmead School will provide leadership support to the school.

Sixteen-year-old Cassie Huckle is delighted with her three A* and nine A grades, and is looking forward to going into the Sixth Form at Northwood.

She said: "I'm really pleased and I can't wait to go back and get on with my A levels.

"These results show me what my teachers at Northwood told me - I will be able to get to university."

STUDENTS at an girls' school did excellently in their GCSEs with 100 per cent achieving five or more A*-C grades.

A huge 57 per cent of the grades given out at Northwood College, in Maxwell Road, Northwood, were either A* or As.

Anika Bhagani and Sohini Patel both got nine A*s and Elysia Cook got eight A*s.

Stewart Brant, the director of studies, said: "The results are very much in line with our expectations. We are very proud of our students and expect the value added score to be high."

STUDENTS at an independent school achieved outstanding results in their GCSEs with a 100 per cent A*-C pass rate.

An amazing 96 per cent of girls at St Helen's School, in Eastbury Road, Northwood, gained A* to B grades and 37 girls achieved A* and A grades in all their GCSEs.

Rebecca Shapiro, who achieved eight A*s and three As, said: "I'm in absolute shock at the moment and I can't believe how well I've done. I can't stop smiling.

"Now I can't wait to start my A-levels in September."

Another ecstatic pupil was Kira Pillai who gained seven A*s and four As.

She said: "I'm completely overwhelmed with how well I've done."

Mary Morris, head teacher, said: "I am delighted with this year's outstanding results, which are a fitting reflection of how hard our Year 11 students have worked in preparation for their GCSEs and a testament to the support they are given by our dedicated staff.

"They should all be very proud of themselves and can now look forward to entering the next stage of their education as they start their A-level and International Baccalaureate courses."

AN AMAZING 14 students at an independent boys' school achieved 10 A* grades in their GCSEs.

Students at Merchant Taylors' School, in Sandy Lodge, Northwood, did exceptionally well with 60.5 per cent of all exams being passed at A* - the school's highest ever amount of the top grade.

An incredible 99.7 per cent achieved five or more A*-C grades and more students than ever before - over 33 per cent of the year group - achieved either eight, nine or 10 A*s.

The 14 students who achieved 10 A* grades are Dhevine Chandrapala, Oliver Douglas, Hiromune Eto, Jaymal Gudka, Arun Kirupananthavel, Adam Mackinnon, Akhil Mohindra, Guy Muscillo, Will Pearmain, Will Pithers, Edward Samuel, Khush Shah, Rajan Shah and Rayhaan Vankalwala.

Head master, Stephen Wright, said: "These are once again exceptional results and the boys can be justly proud that they have achieved them in demanding traditional subjects at the same time as making such a marvellous contribution to sport, drama and work for charity."

SIXTH form students at the three independent schools in Northwood all did exceptionally well in their A-level exams this year.

Northwood College, in Maxwell Road, Merchant Taylors' School, in Sandy Lodge, and St Helen's School, in Eastbury Road, all achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.

A total of 89 per cent of the grades at Northwood College were A-C, 98 per cent were A-C at St Helen's and 99 per cent were A-C at Merchant Taylors'.

A massive 67 per cent of results at St Helen's were grade As.

Hannah Mathie, a student at the school who is going to the University of Cambridge to study veterinary science after achieving three A grades, said: "I'm really pleased and also a bit relieved. I can't wait to go to university to study something that I've wanted to do for about the last ten years."

Headteacher Mary Morris, said: "I am delighted with our A-Level results this year.

"The girls have all worked so hard during their time in the Sixth Form and deserve their excellent results. I know that every girl has done their very best and I wish them all well as they go on to the next stage in their education."

At Merchant Taylors' School just under 79 per cent of the grades achieved by students were As and 26 students got four As.

Philippe Ayache, of Rickmansworth, and James Hinks, of Pinner, even managed to get five A grades

Head master, Stephen Wright, said: "We are delighted that the boys have again surpassed our expectations by passing nearly four in every five exams at grade A.

"You don't need to hot-house students all the time - a traditional boys' education where school is fun and boys play hard as well as work hard is all that is required".

A DAUGHTER lost out on a £100,000 inheritance after a top GP inappropriately changed her father's power of attorney just months before his death, a hearing was told.

Dr Nizar Merali, 57, of Wolsey Road, Northwood, claimed former colleague Dr Kantilal Parmar was of 'sound mind' when he had suffered alcohol-related brain damage and was unable to talk, it was said.

Dr Parmar scored zero out of ten on tests to assess his mental capacity after falling ill while in India in February 2005, the General Medical Council heard.

The GP was not expected to recover from the severe brain damage caused by alcohol withdrawal.

But while assessing the doctor's ability to understand and sign a power of attorney in August 2005, Merali rated him an eight out of ten.

His grieving wife Vasanti then withdrew her stepdaughter Kendal Parmar's £100,000 inheritance bond from Abbey National without telling her, it was said.

She later told her she was 'not entitled to anything' in his will, it is claimed.

Dr Parmar died just a few months later at the age of 77 in July 2006.

Mother of four, Miss Parmar, told the GMC of the moment she learned that she had lost out on the £100,000 inheritance.

She said: "I was absolutely shocked, first of all that I didn't know anything about it and that this had been done without my knowledge, and secondly that a doctor would have said that my father was OK in time, place and person."

Merali, currently a senior partner of GP Direct, the largest practice in Harrow, faces eight charges relating to his assessment of Dr Parmar in 2005.

He has admitted carrying out an assessment but denies claims he performed an 'inadequate and inappropriate' mental capacity test on the doctor.

He also denies his actions were 'dishonest' and 'below the standard expected of a medical practitioner.'

The hearing is expected to finish on August 28.

A MAN who assaulted someone in a pub has been given a community order.

Liam Spinks, 29, of Green Lane, Northwood, was charged with assaulting Stephen Marsden, causing actual bodily harm (ABH), at the William Jolle pub, in Joel Street, Northwood Hills, on March 20.

He appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court yesterday (19) and was given a two year community order, which includes a requirement to carry out 220 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation.

A NORTHWOOD man who committed actual bodily harm (ABH) has been given a community order.

Barry Michael Penstone, 69, of Copse Wood Way, was charged with assaulting Sviatlana Penstone at his home on May 14.

He appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court for sentence yesterday (19) and was given a 12 month community order with a supervision requirement.

He was also made to pay £200 compensation.