September 2009 Archives

THE families of two friends who tragically died on a cycling tour of the world have paid tribute to the 'talented' and 'popular' pair.

Karen Puddifoot, 27, from Northwood, and Tim Roney, 21, from Sarratt in Rickmansworth, Herts, died last Thursday (24) when the boat they were travelling on sank in the South China Sea.

The friends had been taking part in a round the world trip to raise money for the British Lung Foundation.

Karen attended the Wimbledon School of Art, where she achieved a 2.1 degree, before later working in the film industry, where she was involved in the making of The New World, Golden Age and Batman, as well as theatre and television work.

She is survived by mother, Mei, father, Michael, and brother and sister, Chris and Catherine.

In a statement, the family said: "Losing Karen has left a deep hole in our family.

"Karen was extremely popular and had a lot of friends. She was talented, hard working, independent, strong willed and brave.

"She will be deeply, deeply missed by us, her grandparents and her friends."

Tim, who grew up in Northwood and attended Rickmansworth School, leaves behind his mother, Karen, father Alan, stepfather Martyn and brother, Simon.

The family said: "We cannot believe what has happened, there are no words to describe what we are going through.

"Tim meant so much to us and we will miss him so much."

Tim, a keen sportsman who enjoyed playing tennis and golf, was a qualified ski instructor and had spent time teaching in Canada.

He travelled to Ethiopia three years ago to climb the country's highest mountain in aid of the Youth Hostel Association.

His family added: Tim was extremely sociable, talented and adventurous and always had a smile on his face. We are sure he would have planned similar trips in the future.

"We would like to thank all our family and friends who have been so supportive since hearing the news."

Did you know Karen or Tim? Post your tributes at here or email sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk.

A WHOLE week was dedicated to improving the four Ruislip wards and getting people engaged in over 300 activities that took place.

Hillingdon Council's Streets Ahead Week of Action visited South Ruislip, West Ruislip, Cavendish and Manor wards from September 19 to last Friday (25).

The week started with an information fayre at Ruislip Youth Centre, in Bury Street, Ruislip, and focused on five key themes which were highlighted by residents as being important. These were community safety, environment, younger people, older people and sport and culture.

Among the many activities were a teenage boxercise and circuit class, a tea dance, a board game afternoon, a speed gun operation, street cleaning and there was also a knife bin.

There was also a Street Champion celebration evening to award those who have worked hard to keep their area clean and tidy.

The winners were Dorry Charles, Roy Oldfield, Laurie Watts, Mike Hibbert, Sylvia Ladyman, Linda De La Vega and Claire Goodbody.

The Street Champion of the Year award was given to Sylvia Ladyman from the Ruislip, Eastcote and Northwood Hills category.

The next Week of Action will be in Hayes from November 21 to 27 and then on to Eastcote, Northwood and Harefield in the New Year.

A FATHER-of-four who has been writing songs since he was a teenager got as far as the semi-finals in the first ever songwriting competition he has entered.

Cecil Wood, 46, of Ruislip, entered three songs to UK Songwriting Contest 2009 which were all semi-finalists in the adult contemporary category.

His three songs were Can't Shake You Off, Out The Door and Tell Me Where I Stand.

The business development manager said: "I collaborated with a lady from Bolton on another song called Seeing Smoke as well and that was commended. She wrote the lyrics to that and I wrote the melody.

"It's the first competition I have ever entered because I wanted the songs to be perfect first.

"I would have wanted a bit more and if I had sung the songs myself I know I would have blown them away. But, it was cheaper for me to have the songs sung by someone else through a company called SCAMP Studios so a professional demo could be created."

Mr Wood has written a couple of hundred songs since he was a teenager and his biggest influence has always been the American singer-songwriter, Tom Waits.

"He writes great lyrics and he's just one of those great ballad writers," said Mr Wood.

"I also like The Beatles because of their love for melody. I like something with a bit of a message.

"I am a sucker for writing a ballad. Someone broke my heart before and it inspires me to write these kind of soppy songs,

"I mainly write songs for my own entertainment. It's a hobby that you just can't put down.

"I want to push it further now and I think the tide is turning and soon recognition of a lifetime's work will be achieved."

Demos and a clip can be viewed on http://cecilwood.vox.com.

A DAY of celebration took place whereby the Bishop of London visited a school to officially open a new building.

On Tuesday (22) the upper and lower sections of Bishop Ramsey CE School, in Hume Way, Ruislip, were joined together on a single site following a £22m building project.

The new building will enable all the school's 1,250 students to be taught in state-of-the-art accommodation including specialist rooms for science, music, art, design and technology, ICT and drama. The new building also contains a beautiful three-storey entrance atrium and spacious social areas.

Leading the celebrations, the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, offered a prayer of dedication for the new building and led a service in the new chapel.

He said: "I was mightily impressed by the bright young individuals who showed me around the school and it is pleasing that they will benefit from this inspirational new development.

"Diocese of London schools educate 50,000 pupils across London and Bishop Ramsey, rated "outstanding" in its most recent Ofsted report, is a wonderful example of the success of Church schools in the capital."

Speaking about the opening, headteacher Andrew Wilcock, said: "This is a great day for Bishop Ramsey School. It marks the fulfilment of a dream that dates back to the foundation of the school in 1977.

"It also calls in a new era, in which this school can enjoy being a single community and benefit from really outstanding facilities for learning."

On the day, student guides gave tours of the new facilities, followed by English, maths, science, drama and dance showcases.

Chris Spencer, director of education and children's services at Hillingdon Council, said: "The impressive new building will enable all of the young people who attend the school to be taught on a single site.

"It will offer modern, specialist learning facilities, which is great news for both pupils and staff at the school."

ANOTHER application to build a house behind 8 Kingsend, Ruislip, has been submitted.

The application is for a two storey, two bedroom detached house.

A similar application was submitted to Hillingdon Council last year but was refused and an appeal dismissed in May this year.

To comment on the latest plans go to www.hillingdon.gov.uk by October 15.

THREE teenagers have been charged with cutting a lamb's head off with an axe.

The 16-year-olds from Ruislip, who cannot be named because of their age, were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the lamb by throttling it, beating it and severing its head.

They were also charged with destroying and stealing a lamb to the value of £60.

The offences allegedly happened on March 28 in a field next to Yeading Brook, north of the A40 in Ruislip.

They are due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on October 1.

A VIETNAMESE man has been jailed for 18 months and will be deported after being found guilty of producing cannabis.

Anh Phnong Tran, 22, was charged with producing the drug at an address in Marlborough Avenue, Ruislip, on June 24.

At Isleworth Crown Court yesterday (23) he was found guilty and sentenced.

THE trial has started of a Ruislip man charged with the production of cannabis and burglary.

Lee George Luke, 24, of Trevor Crescent, Ruislip Gardens, was charged with the possession of cannabis in Dawley Road, Hayes, on May 13 and the production of cannabis at his home on May 14.

He was also charged with stealing watches, jewellery, computer games, electrical items and cash to the value of £3,000 from a house in Beverley Road, Ruislip Manor, on March 30.

He pleaded not guilty to all three offences and his case went to trial at Isleworth Crown Court today (24).

HUNDREDS of people who petitioned against plans to build youth shelter in a park because of fears anti-social behaviour would increase are celebrating some good news.

Ruislip High School, in Sidmouth Drive, Ruislip Gardens, had plans to build and fund a shelter in Shenley Park, Shenley Avenue, Ruislip Manor, to give somewhere for youths to go.

However, there was very little consultation with residents and when they heard about the plans they gathered 266 signatures on a petition to oppose it.

A meeting was held with Hillingdon Council's cabinet member for environment, Sandra Jenkins, on Tuesday (22) and she decided to oppose the plans.

Peter O'Brien, 59, one of the petition organisers and a resident of Shenley Avenue, said: "They agreed to forget all about building this shelter and instead start a 'Friends of Shenley Park' group.

"If we had already had this group this sort of thing would have got ironed out without all the fuss.

"The teachers and parents at the school were probably for the shelter but the school is quite far away, and they're not necessarily local residents.

"We already get a lot of anti-social behaviour in the park anyway so a shelter that is lit up at night would just make it worse. It's just around the corner from three pubs and a few off licenses as well.

"The park isn't always locked up either so we get people in there at all hours of the night yelling their heads off.

"There was a shelter there before but the council knocked down it about 20 years ago following a request from the police because they kept finding drug paraphernalia in there."

However, a new outdoor gym, which has been funded by the school, has been up and running in the park for about three weeks now and is a hit with the residents.

Mr O'Brien said: "I believe it's the only one in the borough and it seems popular. I have used it.

"The school have got part of their project. It's not like we opposed everything."

A FATHER-of-four who has been writing songs since he was a teenager got as far as the semi-finals in the first ever songwriting competition he has entered.

Cecil Wood, 46, of Ruislip, entered three songs to UK Songwriting Contest 2009 which were all semi-finalists in the adult contemporary category.

His three songs were Can't Shake You Off, Out The Door and Tell Me Where I Stand.

The business development manager said: "I collaborated with a lady from Bolton on another song called Seeing Smoke as well and that was commended. She wrote the lyrics to that and I wrote the melody.

"It's the first competition I have ever entered because I wanted the songs to be perfect first.

"I would have wanted a bit more and if I had sung the songs myself I know I would have blown them away. But, it was cheaper for me to have the songs sung by someone else through a company called SCAMP Studios so a professional demo could be created."

Mr Wood has written a couple of hundred songs since he was a teenager and his biggest influence has always been the American singer-songwriter, Tom Waits.

"He writes great lyrics and he's just one of those great ballad writers," said Mr Wood.

"I also like The Beatles because of their love for melody. I like something with a bit of a message.

"I am a sucker for writing a ballad. Someone broke my heart before and it inspires me to write these kind of soppy songs.

"I mainly write songs for my own entertainment. It's a hobby that you just can't put down.

"I want to push it further now and I think the tide is turning and soon recognition of a lifetime's work will be achieved."