June 2009 Archives

THE family of a man who died in a motorbike accident have paid tribute to the loving father and husband who always had a smile on his face.

Spencer Gibbons, 38, of Clyfford Road, Ruislip Gardens, died in Dawley Road, Hayes, at about 6.20am last Wednesday (24).

He was on his way back to work at Hendricks Lovell, a building material distributors in Dawley Road, when he was involved in a crash with two other cars.

His wife of 15 years, Sharon Gibbons, 38, said: "Everyone will remember him for his big cheesy smile and his infectious laugh. He was very easy going and didn't take anything too seriously."

The motorbike fanatic had two sons, Jack, nine, and Alfie, four, and the family had a holiday booked to go to Disneyland Resort Paris next month (Aug).

Mrs Gibbons added: "He was an absolutely lovely father and he was a big Liverpool FC fan too."

Flowers have also been laid at the crash scene along with a Liverpool FC scarf and messages from his friends and family.

One message read: "My darling brother I love you with all my heart. Sweet dreams. Love you always and forever. Sammie."

Another said: "Spencer, life is so unfair. A lovely guy with a great smile and personality. A great loss to your family. In our thoughts."

A few of his friends have also emailed the Gazette to pay tribute to him.

Paul Shelford said: "I worked with Spencer and have to say I was deeply shocked and upset at the news. Such a nice bloke and a great dad. All of us at Skyline Roofing will miss him dearly. Hope he rests in peace."

The funeral is being held at Breakspear Crematorium, in Breakspear Road, Ruislip, at 3pm on Friday (3).

Anyone who witnessed the crash should call the Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8998 5319 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

A RUISLIP teenager made it through to the final of Britain's biggest climbing competition.

Jonny White, 15, came 4th out of 32 competitors in the 14 to 16 year olds boys' category in this year's national final of the BMC Youth Climbing Series, held at Westway Sports Centre in West London on June 20.

His team - London and South East - came 2nd overall in the 14 - 16 category.
Two hundred young climbers, aged between 8 and 16 years old, competed for a place on the podium in the final

The Series gives young climbers, who are not yet in the British Team, the chance to get a taste for competition climbing in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

ALMOST half a million pounds worth of cannabis was found at a house in Ruislip following a police raid.

West Ruislip, South Ruislip and Cavendish Safer Neighbourhoods Teams raided the five bedroom detached bungalow in Marlborough Avenue at 4.45pm last Wednesday (24).

Between £400,000 and £450,000 worth of cannabis was found in five rooms of the house.

A 26-year-old man was arrested and charged.

THE MOTORCYCLIST who died in early hours of Wednesday morning (June 24) after colliding with two cars at the junction of Dawley Road and Bolingbroke Way in Hayes has been named.
The 38 year old man was Spencer Gibbons of Clyfford Road, Ruislip, Middlesex.
The incident happened at 6.23am yesterday and the 38 year-old motorist was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both car drivers were taken to Hillingdon Hospital one with minor injuries and the other with shock.
Anyone with information should contact the police on 0208 998 5319 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Did you know Mr Gibbons? If you did please contact reporter Sarika Sharma on 0779 564 5696 or email sarikasharma@trinitysouth.co.uk with your tribute or leave your phone number.
Please leave a tribute at the end of this page.

STATION officers and members of the local community came together to celebrate the formal re-opening of the Officers' Mess at RAF Northolt.

The base, in West End Road, South Ruislip, organised the civic reception on June 2 to mark the opening of the mess after it was closed for refurbishment for a year as part of Project MoDEL.

The mess, which was built in the 1920's, is one of the few remaining Battle of Britain messes in the RAF and as such was awarded Grade II listed status by English Heritage.

The event was also honoured by a flypast of a Spitfire belonging to Rolls Royce.

Station Commander Group Captain Guy van den Berg said: "We are extremely proud to re-occupy this historic Officers Mess, a pinnacle element of MoDEL, benefiting from close engagement with English Heritage. The sympathetic refurbishment and extension is future proofed for several generations."

A RUISLIP man who sold counterfeit Nike trainers on eBay has been ordered to repay £30,000.

Darren Clowes, 29, was caught out after Hillingdon's Trading Standards Officers received information from another borough and raided his home in Meadow Close, Ruislip, in March 2007.

They found 16 pairs of counterfeit trainers and records showed he had been selling the shoes for more than two years.

At Harrow Crown Court on Friday (19) a judge issued a confiscation order requiring Clowes to repay £29,493.

He was also fined £1,000 for two offences against the Trade Marks Act and was ordered to pay £4,500 costs towards Hillingdon Council's legal costs.

AN annual fun day packed full of attractions and activities for the whole family to enjoy is being held in Ruislip Manor.

Children's rides and a huge array of charity and trade stalls will fill Victoria Road on July 4 from 11am to 5pm for the 12th Ruislip Manor Fun Day.

The library in Linden Avenue is also holding an Alien Invasion event where children can dress up as their favourite sci-fi characters for a fancy dress competition.

There will also be a Kid's Zone, singing and dancing activities and an opportunity to hold snakes, spiders, frogs and other creepy crawlies.

The event is organised by Ruislip Manor Chamber of Commerce (RMCC) and Lawrence Rand Estate Agents and George Wimpey are sponsoring the day.

At 5pm Elachi Indian Restaurant will be handing over a large cut-out cheque to the Mayor of Hillingdon for her charities and one for RMCC.

SEA cadets managed to raise a staggering £2,800 during their Flag Week.

Ruislip Sea Cadets did door-to-door and town centre collections between June 15 and 20 to help pay for the running costs of their base and help pay for events.

Chairman of Ruislip Sea Cadets, Aidan Harris, said: "We are most grateful to all those in the local community who kindly donated to our funds during the week.

"As each Sea Cadet Unit operates as a separate charity we have to cover all the running costs for our building and events programme from the money that we collect."

The cadet group also came second in the (Sea Cadets) North West London District Regatta held on June 14 at the Royal Victoria Dock in East London.

Marine Cadet Oliver Di Bartolo, 15, won gold in the Senior Kayak Marathon and Marine Cadet Jordan Budd, ,14, won gold in the Junior Kayak Marathon.

Both will go on to represent North-West District at the London Area competition later in the year.

The girls also did well with Sea Cadets Guinevere Nicholls, 13, Jessica Smith, 13, Charlotte Smith, 14, Coral Budd, 14, and Danielle Bates, 13, storming to second place in the rowing event.

The cadets will also have a stand at Ruislip Manor Fun Day on July 4.

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 THUG who attacked someone with a plank of wood and later attacked his friend with a knife has been jailed for seven years.

Amir Elsawify, 20, of Midcroft, Ruislip, was found guilty of two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH), one count of intimidation and one count of possessing an offensive weapon .

The first ABH offence took place in Lime Grove, Eastcote, in October 2007 and the other three offences happened on January 2 this year in The Fairway, South Ruislip.

Elsawify, who has previous convictions for assault, affray and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, was found guilty after a week long trial at Harrow Crown Court in May.

He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on Friday (19) - just one week before his 21st birthday.