May 2010 Archives

MOST teenagers are preoccupied with their social lives and school work but one 16-year-old from Croxley Green has found time to volunteer for a disabled charity as well as care for her brother, who has autism.

In recognition of her efforts, Mitchelle Gass, of Watford Road, was nominated for an award in this year's Young Person of the Year (YOPEY) competition, which celebrates the achievements of positive young role models.

Mitchelle, who came joint-third place in the contest, spends much of her spare time taking care of her 14-year-old brother, Taylor, whose condition means he finds it difficult to mix with other people and needs encouragement to join in social activities.

A CROXLEY Green watering hole is celebrating after being named pub of the year by local real ale fans.

The Sportsman, in Scots Hill Close, won the title after impressing beer lovers at Watford and District CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), a local arm of the national organisation which promotes real ale and the preservation of traditional pubs.

Licensee Tracy Soden, who runs the pub with her husband, Jason, said she was 'gobsmacked' by the news, not least because they took over the tavern little more than two years ago in February 2008.

STUDENTS at St Martin's School in Northwood have high hopes of winning the Times Spelling Bee competition for a second year running, after claiming victory in the semi-finals.

The school, in Moor Park Road, beat 10 regional winners to take a clear margin at Staples Corner Cineworld last Tuesday, May 18.

The team was made up of four year seven pupils - Kieran Patel, Adam Grant, Udaya Sharma and Kabir Mann - all aged 12, who impressed the judges by accurately spelling difficult words including delphinium and scurrilous.

A MAN has been jailed for two years after cultivating more than 500 cannabis plants in Northwood.

Bo Van Vu, 41, of Copse Wood Way, produced about 537 plants of the Class B drug, believed to be worth an estimated street value of between £125,000 and £150,000.

The plants were discovered at his home address on Monday, March 23 this year.

Vu admitted he was responsible for producing the plants when the case was heard at Isleworth Crown Court yesterday (18).

More to follow.

RUISLIP, Northwood and Pinner MP Nick Hurd has secured a new job in the coalition government as Minister for Civil Society, responsible for the voluntary sector.

Mr Hurd, who was re-elected on May 6, previously performed the role of Shadow Charities Minister for a year and a half.

His parliamentary duties included holding the government to account for its policies in relation to charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations - known as the Third Sector.

A SCOUT group is holding its grand annual jumble sale in Northwood this Saturday (22).

More than 800 people are expected to attend the hugely popular event, hosted by the 1st Northwood Scouts, which will be officially opened by the Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Shirley Harper-O'Neill.

The sale starts at 2pm at the scout headquarters in Northwood Way, and all proceeds will go to the Scout Group.

THOUSANDS of visitors flocked to the annual Rickmansworth Festival to enjoy an array of live bands, canal boat rides and fairground attractions.

The popular two-day event, which took place on Saturday (15) and Sunday (16) saw more than 150 boats moored along the canal tow path at Batchworth Lock, with owners taking part in a tug of war competition.

A Spitfire and Hurricane flypast marked the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Saturday afternoon, while the festival ended with an impressive air display by a 1930s German Bucker Jungmann bi-plane on Sunday.

A TEENAGER from Rickmansworth suffered cuts to his head after an alleged assault in a Watford pub on Saturday, May 8.

Around 9pm, a brawl is said to have broken out between two men at Oddfellows in Fearnley Street, leaving the 18-year-old victim with 'serious injuries'.

PC Sarah Morrell, investigating, said: "This altercation has left a man with serious injuries and our enquiries are currently ongoing to establish the full circumstances around it.

"We understand there were a lot of people in the pub at the time of the incident who may well have seen the altercation or who may have some information about it and we would urge them to speak to police."

A 35-year-old man from London has been arrested in connection with the incident and is on bail until June 26.

Anyone with information should call 0845 3300222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

DOGS are often said to be a man's best friend and this saying couldn't be truer of a dedicated pooch from Northwood who helped her owner through cancer, divorce and depression.

Six-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bonnie, is one of 16 furry finalists from more than 300 entries to have been short-listed for the 2010 Dogs Trust Honours, after her owner, David Mercer, entered her into the Dogged Devotion category.

Mr Mercer, 55, of Hallowell Road, said: "We have always had dogs in the family but Bonnie was particularly special as she was my 50th birthday present.

"I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 1999 and was told it was in remission but the symptoms returned at the end of 2007 and I spent a lot of time in hospital.

"Then a year later, my wife and I separated after 19 years of marriage and I became very depressed living alone.

A 22-YEAR-OLD died when his best friend lost control of the car they were travelling in and collided with an oncoming vehicle, an inquest heard last Thursday (13).

Christopher Puddifoot, of Grove Farm Park, Northwood, was a front seat passenger in Karl Hemmingway's new BMW when it crashed head on with a Vauxhall Astra in Hampermill Lane, Watford, at about 5.20pm on November 10 last year.

Tragically, the charity worker's sister, Karen, 27, and close friend Tim Roney, 21, died just two months earlier when the pair drowned during a round the world charity cycling trip, after their boat capsized off the coast of Vietnam.