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.

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."

TWO men have been charged with assaulting a female relative causing her actual bodily harm (ABH).

Kamil Mohammed Issa, 24, of Wraysbury Drive, West Drayton, allegedly assaulted Isra Issa at his home on August 25 and threatened to kill her on August 20.

Nasser Mohammed Issa, 30, of St Christophers Drive, Hayes, has also been charged with assaulting her.

They are due to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on November 24 to enter their pleas.

A HALLOWEEN party was held to raise money to take a cheerleading squad on a trip of a lifetime.

Joanne Cordery, 20, works with special needs children at Hedgewood School, in Weymouth Road, Hayes, and has set up a cheerleading squad with students at the school called 'Special Stars'.

She now wants to take them to Orlando in April next year to compete in the World Championships.

Joanne, her family, and everyone at the school are working together with the community to raise the thousands of pounds needed to make the dream become a reality.

A charity has been registered to help the group with their fundraising efforts called Cheer4aChild.

On Saturday (24) they held a Halloween party at Ruislip Golf Club, in West End Road, Ruislip, and they managed to raise £1,100 towards the trip.

Ken Cordery, Joanne's father, said: "The party was the first of many fundraising events required to amass the huge amount of investment to help the children realise a once in a lifetime dream and it was a great success."

To help with fundraising contact Hedgewood School or email Mr Cordery at kenc44@hotmail.com

A TEEANGER was allegedly caught with crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply it to others.

Remy Kalunga, 19, of Winnock Road, West Drayton, was charged with possessing 2.04 grams of crack cocaine and 1.43 grams of heroin at the Grand Union Canal tow path in Hayes on August 13.

He appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court today (22) and was remanded on unconditional bail to return to the court on December 3 to be committed to crown court.

A WEST Drayton man has been charged with possession of drugs with intent to supply.

Samuel David Thompson, 22, of Pippins Close, was charged with possessing 196 grams of cannabis with intent to supply in West Drayton Road, Hayes, on May 18.

He appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court today (22) and his case was committed to Isleworth Crown Court to be heard on November 17.

MOST people in their 20s are only just getting their foot on the career ladder but Hayley Medwell is certainly the exception to the rule.

The 26-year-old is about to use all of her experiences in the film industry to open her own performing arts school in Uxbridge under her company, OnRoute Entertainment.

She said: "Kids can come here and learn everything about performing and the entertainment industry.

"At most performing arts schools you can only do one or two things but here you can come in and do the whole lot. You can sign up as a member and do unlimited classes."

The school, in Wallingford Road, is holding its official open day on November 2 to invite people to come in and see what they do.

It will offer courses in all different types of dance, singing, acting, post production, music, film making, music producing, creative writing classes and stunt training.

Next month, Hayley, who lives in Tudor Way, Hayes, is also planning to start a beginners course in free running.

Although the school is aimed at children and adults, Hayley is also adamant that it will be open to everyone.

She said: "We're going to hold adult classes in the evenings and I've also been approached by a young offenders group who want to come here in the day time.

"We've got wheelchair access to the school as well because we want to work with special needs children and I want to hold classes for the over 60s.

"We don't want to isolate anyone."

There will also be a careers advisor on hand at the school because Hayley is keen to encourage all her students to go into further education.

"I strongly believe that if you want to do something in life then do it. There's no stopping you. As long as you put the time and work in, you're guaranteed to get something out of it," said Hayley, who is a shining example of this.

Five years ago she took herself off to Los Angeles to study at the New York Film Academy based at Universal Studios for three months.

"It opened my eyes to the industry. I wanted to write films and direct and going there made me realise I could do it. It encouraged me and pushed me on," explained Hayley.

"I've always wanted my own performing arts school and film and production company so I could provide opportunities for others.

"Last year one of my feature films was going to get made, but that fell through. I learnt from that and took it upon myself to open up my own company.

"There are a lot of talented kids out there and no where for them to go.

"The school will give them the opportunity to find out if they want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry before they decide to go further with it at school."

For a 26-year-old, Hayley has achieved a lot on her life, but she says you have to do things when you are younger because you have no commitments.

She said: "Hopefully the school is more appealing to people because I am young. I wanted to do it now because I'm not tied down to anything. If I was older, I think I would have been more nervous about doing it. When you are young you just bite the bullet and go for it.

"My five year goal is to have schools set up across the UK and I want to get it over to the States as well.

"I'm just going to grab the bull by the horns and run with it."

On Sunday (25) Hayley and her students were given the opportunity to perform in Uxbridge town centre as part of Hillingdon BIGFest, an annual celebration of music and arts in the borough.

The school will be open to everyone and anyone from the age of five upwards and will also be open every day.

The official opening is being held on November 2 from 4pm to 7.30pm at Victory House, in Wallingford Road, Uxbridge.

"I am really grateful for the support I have received from all my team members over the last few months," added Hayley.

For more information call Hayley on 07762 745362, email her at info@onrouteentertainment.co.uk or go to www.onrouteentertainment.co.uk.

A HAYES man has been sent to crown court for trial after he was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a dry cleaners.

Mohammed Ashiq, 27, of Avondale Drive, was charged with committing the offence at Professional Dry Cleaners, in Uxbridge Road, Hayes, on March 24.

His case will go to trial at Isleworth Crown Court on November 10.

AN illegal immigrant who was installed as a cannabis 'gardener' in a makeshift drugs factory has been jailed for two years

Police raided a house in Cranford Drive, Hayes, where they found Diep Vu and rooms on two floors filled with around 200 cannabis plants, some up to six foot high, on September 12.

The 28-year-old later admitted he came to Britain illegally from Hanoi, Vietnam, via Calais where he had met a man who gave him a telephone number to get work on his arrival.

On Friday (16) Isleworth Crown Court heard that once in the UK he was taken to the house and told to water the class B drug plants twice daily and he would be paid when it was harvested.

Gavin Fitzpatrick, prosecuting, said: "Officers forced the door, a sheet of plastic had to be torn down, and once they had done so, they could see Mr Vu on the staircase. He was arrested. Officers could smell cannabis and there were a number of rooms being used as a factory."

Vu had headed for Britain seven months earlier in search of a job to earn money for his wife and child who remain in Vietnam.

But on the journey, which he undertook alone, he was targeted by drug dealers and took the job as gardener, he said, not knowing what cannabis was or that it was illegal.

Aurindam Majumdar, defending, said: "He was taken to the house and told he would be provided with accommodation and food, and when the crops were harvested he would be paid for his involvement."

Judge J.A Denniss said: "The operation in which you were involved was a sophisticated operation. You cultivated cannabis and the potential profits from cannabis farms like this are extremely high and the damage which can be done by the drug is considerable, clearly a deterrent sentence is called for."

The judge sentenced Vu to two years in prison and ordered him to be deported on his release.

WITH Bonfire Night creeping up on us one artist has come up with innovative campaign posters to remind people of the dangers of fireworks.

Chris Dilger, aka Captain Colourblind, of Addison Way, Hayes, has been creating awareness campaigns since the mid 90s.

The 52-year-old said: "I was sick of the Nicorette adverts on television advising people how to quit smoking and I thought I could do something a little bit more interesting.

"I created some no smoking campaign posters and went to NHS Hillingdon with them and they accepted a couple of them.

"The buzz for me was just getting the letter from them saying they would use my work. I just want recognition."

Mr Dilger, who is also a member of Hillingdon Artists, has also created campaigns against the third runway at Heathrow Airport, which have been used by NoTRAG, drink driving campaigns, which have been used by Hillingdon Council, and a poster for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

RSCPA Hillingdon have also just accepted his firework campaign posters.

He said: "Originally I thought to myself it's pointless telling people not to do things, but if you can stick the message into an image it will subliminally tell them. Like the drink driving poster I have created ; you don't need any words with that. If that is on a wall in a pub you can deduce from that everything you need to. I have tried to apply that to all my campaigns."

Mr Dilger wants to get his work recognised more than anything else, but says it is a struggle.

He said: "I could do what Banksy does if I wanted to be illegal and I am a bit mythed that he gets away with it. Tag artists get arrested and he just gets a pat on the back.

"I don't have the funds to support me. It's really difficult but I don't lose sleep over it. I enjoy doing what I do.

"In an ideal world if I had a wish it would be for an animator to walk through my door who didn't want a load of cash, but just a concept and he could use my ideas."