October 2009 Archives

UNSUNG heroes are invited to step into the spotlight as the Uxbridge Gazette and Leader series, together with Uxbridge College, is once again seeking inspirational people who have made an outstanding contribution to the community.

The eighth annual Local Heroes awards, which launches today (28), acknowledges the hard work, dedication and courage shown by ordinary people from Hillingdon borough who have put others first or overcome adversity.

There are five categories in this year's awards: Outstanding Young Person, Star Carer, Community Champion, Courageous Citizen and Fabulous Fundraiser.

Entry is open to anyone who lives, works or volunteers in the borough, so if you know someone who deserves credit for doing a good deed, nominate them now!

The closing date for entries is Monday, December 14, and the judging panel will make its decision on the following day.

Short listed nominees are invited to attend a gala awards night with music from Perry Parsons MBE and The Vyners Swing Band, held on Thursday, January 28 at Hayes Community Campus in Coldharbour Lane, Hayes.

Category winners will each receive a trophy and £250 cash, and the person named overall Hero of Hillingdon will pick up an extra £500. Runners up will each receive £50.

Last year's awards saw Multiple Sclerosis sufferer, Nimira Patel, crowned a Hero of Hillingdon, after voluntarily running Little Angels playgroup at Harlington Baptist Church in High Street, Harlington.

She was also recognised for her efforts to support others in the community by offering a listening ear and giving helpful advice, as well as looking after people's children and making sure they get something to eat.

Choose from the following categories:

Outstanding Young Person: Anyone aged 16 or under who has made an outstanding achievement or impressive effort, supported others or enthusiastically taken part in sports or an event.

Star Carer: Someone who has selflessly looked after a friend, relative, neighbour, or others.

Community Champion: An individual, group or organisation which has helped or supported the community.

Courageous Citizen: Someone who has triumphed over adversity, achieved something against the odds, or shown courage or determination.

Fabulous Fundraiser: An individual, group, organisation or business which has raised money for a deserving cause.

Email Gazette reporter Siba Matti at sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk with the name of the category and contact details for both the nominee and the person who is nominating. Alternatively, see the Gazette each week for a nomination form.

*Please note that, under competition rules, staff from the Uxbridge Gazette and Leader series, and students and staff from Uxbridge College, cannot be nominated.

HILLINGDON Council have submitted an application to build a youth centre on the site of a former gymnastics club.

The proposed plans are to demolish Swallows, in Victoria Road, South Ruislip, to build the single storey youth centre.

To comment on the application go to www.hillingdon.gov.uk by November 12.

A FORMER Ruislip school pupil has been battling with the harsh terrain and environment of the East African savannah training hard for his forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan next month.

Royal Military Policeman Corporal Ross Ackland, 23, from South Ruislip, has been taking part in a six week exercise in central Kenya.

Exercise Grand Prix replicates the realities of military operations in a hot climate with temperatures of 40 degrees. Troops have to consume six litres of water a day to keep hydrated.

The exercise not only concentrates on firepower, but also on building relations with local people. It uses local actors to ensure that the soldiers learn to deal with foreign cultures; the realism is further enhanced by working alongside the Kenyan Army just as soldiers would work with the Afghanistan National Army.

Former Queensmead School student, Ross, who joined the army in 2006 and has since served in Sudan, is due to deploy to Afghanistan in a close support role protecting the Commanding Officer of his Company.

He said: "We have an important job protecting the company commander and ensuring that any enemy insurgents we capture are well taken care of and don't cause any problems.

"I am due to go to Afghanistan next month, so it's nice to be able to work in an environment with the same heat and terrain and similar challenges to what I will face in Afghanistan. I am looking forward to going there and to put into practice all the training I have received.

"I really enjoy being in Kenya, it's a really interesting country with friendly people. I have seen all the main wildlife here such as elephants and giraffes, which are extraordinary."

AN EASTCOTE man has been charged with racially aggravated assault.

Yong Sheng Wang, 36, of Field End Road, allegedly assaulted a man at Alfa Cars, in Victoria Road, Ruislip Manor, on July 19.

He is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on December 22.

GLEBE Farm was the hot topic of discussion at South Ruislip Residents' Association's latest meeting and Uxbridge MP John Randall entertained members with a speech about himself.

More than 60 people turned up for the quarterly meeting, held in St Mary's Church Hall, in The Fairway, South Ruislip, last night (28).

The South Ruislip Safer Neighbourhoods Team spoke about the problems they are having with underage drinking in parks.

They also mentioned they would be carrying out fireworks test purchases at shops in the area in the lead up to Bonfire Night and informed members that they would be doing more weekend and evening shifts.

The increase in drug dealing in the area was one of the main concerns on residents' minds as well as the parking problems in Victoria Road. However, Councillor Judy Kelly, informed members that yellow lines are due to go in to stop this.

The problems with the new car parking charges at Mount Vernon Hospital were also mentioned and one of the members warned residents that RAF Northolt will be carrying out flight checks at night of November 10 and 11, so there will be some noise disturbance.

Mr Randall, who was the guest speaker at the meeting, spoke about the constituency boundary changes that will be coming in at the next general election, which means South Ruislip will be in the Uxbridge constituency. He also touched on the new developments at RAF Uxbridge.

However, the topic that caused the most disturbance at the meeting was Glebe Farm. A further seperate story will follow on this.

A KIND hearted friend is putting himself through a gruelling 26 mile marathon to raise money for the Down's Syndrome Association.

Ben Fitzgerald, 29, of Manningtree Road, South Ruislip, decided to take part in the New York Marathon on Sunday (1) after his close friends' baby was born with Down's syndrome.

Mark, 39, and Kirsty Turner, 31, from Iver, already had a four-year-old daughter when Kirsty gave birth to Maisie five months ago.

Mr Fitzgerald said: "I have always wanted to do a marathon, but I wanted to do something a bit different so I choose the New York one.

"I was already planning to run it before Maisie was born, but it was then that I decided to do it for the Down's Syndrome Association.

"I didn't know how Mark and Kirsty would feel about it but when I asked them they were over the moon and said they were behind me 100 per cent.

"Before Maisie was born I didn't know anyone with Down's syndrome and I didn't know a lot about it, so there's probably a lot of other people out there that don't know much about it either. Therefore, as well as raising money, I also want to raise awareness of the condition."

Mrs Turner said: "We didn't know that Maisie had Down's syndrome until after she was born and with Ben doing this, it has helped us to talk about the situation a bit more openly.

"He is doing this all off of his own back and another friend of ours has set up a website for Maisie so we can continue raising money on a regular basis. It's really nice to have our friends supporting us."

This is the first ever marathon and charity event Mr Fitzgerald has taken part in and he is aiming to raise £2,000.

He said: "The support I have had from everyone has been immense.

"I've been training for 10 weeks and the furthest I have run in training is 20 miles. I aim to finish it in four and a half hours, but to be honest, I'm not bothered about my time because that's not why I'm doing it.

"My knees are a bit dodgy at the moment, but if they hold up I will be okay."

To sponsor him go to www.justgiving.com/Ben-Fitzgerald/ and for more information go to www.maisieturner.com

A FIRE safety officer has been awarded with a medal to mark 20 years of service with the London Fire Brigade.

Anisea Skinner, of Woodville Gardens, Ruislip, only came to the UK from her native New Zealand to travel and see the sights. Thirty four years later she is married and has just clocked up 20 years service with the capital's fire brigade.

On October 15 she was presented with a long service and good conduct medal by the chairman of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Brian Coleman, at a special ceremony held at the Brigade's training centre in Southwark.

Mrs Skinner began her career at the brigade's Harrow Training Centre, before moving onto Wembley where she worked with the properties and building services section.

She then worked as a water officer, responsible for inspecting fire hydrants across North West London, before being posted to Hounslow where she worked advising residents about fire safety.

Her latest role sees her based in Hillingdon as a fire community safety officer. Her job involves going out into London's diverse communities to offer fire safety advice and this has included working with, among others, the capital's Korean, Polish and Muslim residents.

She said: "Working for the fire brigade has been a very satisfying job and I'm particularly enjoying my current role.

"Getting the Brigade's fire safety message across to those groups that may not be as aware of what we do is very rewarding."

NOISY neighbours who consistently played loud amplified music have been fined.

Barry Hardie, of Wheatsheaf Close, Ruislip, and Anna Marie Ellis and Richard Killey, of Kittiwake Way, Hayes, were all served with noise abatement notices this year after they continued to play loud music.

However, when they breached these notices Hillingdon Council had no choice but to take them to court.

Yesterday (27) at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court Mr Hardie was fined £105 and ordered to pay £280 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge for the breach.

The occupants of the address in Kittiwake Way did not appear in court and the case was held in their absence.

The court imposed a fine of £350 on each of the perpetrators and ordered them to pay £262 court costs each and a £15 victim surcharge each.

All three perpetrators now have criminal records.

Kathy Sparks, deputy director for environment and consumer protection said: "This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and the council will always look to take action against those who cause a noise nuisance and continue to ignore warnings."

A GROUP of intrepid colleagues from a car dealership who dreamt of taking on a notoriously tough climbing challenge for charity have completed their mission.

Simon Bennett, 36, Simon Poole, 33, Wayne Miller, 33, Ben Stinton, 35, and Alan Finnie, 36, from Citygate Volkswagen, in Victoria Road, South Ruislip, came up with the idea of taking on the Three Peaks Challenge whilst on a work night out.

They committed themselves to climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales - all in under 24 hours.

After months of gruelling training, the five men completed the challenge in 23 hours and 32 minutes on October 10.

Mr Bennett, who is head of marketing at Citygate Volkswagen, said: "We put a lot of effort into training for the day but it was still extremely tough, definitely the most physically demanding thing any of us have ever done.

"Although the physical element of completing the 26 miles was difficult, it was the mental strain we all found to be the toughest part of the challenge. There were a number of points during the day we wanted to throw the towel in, but we gelled extremely well as a team and battled on to the end crossing the finishing line together."

The group have now almost reached their goal of raising £5,000 for BEN, which provides practical, emotional and financial support for current and past employees of the automotive industry.

To make a donation or to view the photos from the challenge visit www.thecitygatechallenge.co.uk

A SEA cadets group marked the 204th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson with a traditional event.

A total of 40 staff members, parents and supporters of Ruislip Sea Cadets sat down to a three-course meal on Saturday (24), held at the unit's headquarters in Cordingley Road, Ruislip.

The guest of honour was the former Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Brian Crowe.

The event was organised by petty officer, Alison Watkins, who said: "I enjoyed the challenge of putting the event together and everything went smoothly with hot food, good support and convivial company.

"We also raised £70 through a raffle which will boost unit funds."

On Remembrance Sunday (8) the cadets will be forming the Guard of Honour at the cenotaph in High Street, Pinner.

The unit traditionally parades in Pinner on Remembrance Sunday in keeping with a long association with the town that goes back to the days when Pinner had its own sea cadet unit, which later merged with Ruislip.