Northwood

A PENSIONER who admitted being in possession of imitation guns in public will be sentenced next month.

Frank Richard Hawkins, of Wiltshire Lane, Northwood Hills, had a Japanese manufacture cap firing revolver in Murray Road, Northwood, on September 4 last year.

The 63-year-old also admitted possessing an Umarex Derringerblank firing pistol, a prohibited weapon with a barrel less than 12 inches long, in the same road on the same day.

Hawkins admitted the offences at Harrow Crown Court on Friday (28) and is due to return for sentencing on March 18.

STUDENTS at St Martin's School in Northwood became editors for a day after working with a national children's book publisher.

Nine year five pupils at the school, in Moor Park Road, acted as young consultants for the title, The Mountain's Blood.

The book, written by award-winning author, Larry Don, tells the story of Inanna, a Sumerian goddess, who must battle against a mountain which is poisoning the land.

PROFOUND stories of bravery, determination and survival against the odds are being shared this week, as part of the 10th annual events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) in Northwood.

Two thousand school children from Hillingdon, Harrow and Hertfordshire will hear 16 Holocaust survivors recount their harrowing experiences during sessions over four days at Northwood United Synagogue, in Murray Road, and Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, in Oaklands Gate.

The events, the biggest of their kind in the UK, end on Thursday (27) when HMD - the 76th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau - will be observed across the country.

GAZETTE readers are being asked for their help to identify five of the men in this photograph, showing the founding fathers of Northwood Bowling Club.

As part of its 75th anniversary celebrations last year, the club, in Chestnut Avenue, is compiling a historical record for future generations of its bowlers.

POLICE conducted an operation in Northwood yesterday morning (Thursday) to warn drivers against using an illegal short cut.

For 45 minutes from 8.15pm, officers from Northwood Safer Neighbourhood Team stopped 15 motorists turning right into Northgate from Ducks Hill Road.

The operation was launched in response to complaints received from residents 'non-stop'.

A WOMAN had to be cut from her car after being involved in a rush-hour collision in Northwood last night (Thursday).

The crash, involving a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a silver Land Rover Defender estate, took place in Rickmansworth Road, close to Mount Vernon Hospital, at about 5.45pm, causing traffic to come to a standstill.

Emergency services raced to the scene and firefighters removed the roof of the Corsa to free the woman, believed to be in her 40s.

NORTHWOOD resident Michelle Whynn was on the brink of despair when her 12-year relationship with her bread-winner partner fell apart in 2007.

Penniless and without a roof over her head, the 42-year-old had no idea how she would support her son, Marcus, now 16, who has learning difficulties including autism and Tourette's syndrome.

But today, three-and-a-half years on, Ms Whynn has turned her life around after starting up her own business with a national cosmetics company.

TRADERS and residents fear increased parking charges for anyone without a HillingdonFirst card will 'drive a stake through the heart' of Northwood.

From January 31, motorists who live outside of the borough could be forced to pay as much as 40 per cent extra to park in the town, if council proposals are approved.

The potential hike in charges comes just nine months since they were increased in April last year, after the HillingdonFirst card, which offers discounts to residents, was introduced in February 2009.

A SONG has been written in memory of a 14-year-old Northwood College pupil who died suddenly while taking part in a running competition.

Shannon Powell, of Northolt Village, collapsed at the Middlesex Cross Country Championships at Trent Park, in Barnet, north London, on January 8, as reported in the Gazette.

The year 10 pupil, who has been described as 'an outstanding all-round athlete and exceptionally talented swimmer', was representing the Ealing, Southall and Middlesex Athletics Club.

INSPIRATIONAL Kelsey Trevett won the hearts of the nation after being honoured with a Pride of Britain award - and now a kind-hearted television viewer who saw the ceremony has offered to make one of the nine-year-old's dreams come true.

A pupil at Frithwood School, in Carew Road, Northwood, Kelsey lost his sight to cancer at just five years old - but despite this early set back, he has been praised for refusing to let blindness ruin his life.