November 2008 Archives

A CHRISTMAS Fair on Sunday, November 30 celebrates the anniversary of the slogan
'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas'.

The Dogs Trust in Harvil Road, Harefield, which created the slogan, will host start the
Christmas festivities from 11am - 4pm.

Television actress Lesley Joseph will be add her very own Christmas cheer to the event from 2pm after presenting her BBC London Radio show.

Ms Joseph is a great supporter of Dogs Trust Harefield, and has recently starred in The Celebrity Underdog Show and Celebrity Cash in the Attic.

The actress is happy to sign autographs, and will be joining in the fun and presenting the lucky raffle winners with their prizes.

A wide variety of stalls are planned to suit all tastes including: Santa Paws and his Rein-Dogs; a doggy deli selling doggy Christmas cookies and cakes; Doggy gift and craft stall; Hillingdon's Christmas Choir and Brass Quintet; and face painting for children in the Kids Fun Zone.

All the money raised from the event will help Dogs Trust continue its vital work, caring for hundreds of stray and abandoned dogs.

For further information on Dogs Trust call 020 7837 0006 or visit www.dogs
trust.org.uk

A FARM had to be evacuated for 24 hours after a heated acetylene cylinder was found.

Crowns Nest Farm, in Breakspear Road South, Harefield, was evacuated on Saturday by the London Fire Brigade after the cylinder was found.

Four fire engines and a command unit were sent to control the area and put in a 200m exclusion zone and a total of 16 engines attended the scene throughout the 24 hours.

RESIDENTS of Newdigate Road will present a petition to councillors tonight (November 26) to ask for help with parking problems.

They are hoping to be allotted residents-only parking restrictions because they are unable to park outside their own houses during the day.

Staff from nearby offices and Harefield Hospital are blamed for filling the spaces.

The meeting with Councillor Keith Burrows is at the Civic Centre,High Street,Uxbridge, in committee room 3 at 7pm and is open to the public.

THE ANNUAL meeting of the Harefield Horticultural Society is on November 26 and members are hoping for a good turn-out.

Just turn up at Barden Court in Hall Drive at 8pm to hear a review of the year's activities and reports from officers.

The committee is always looking for new suggestions for the schedule, social and evening events.

By the way, now is an excellent time to get an allotment so it can be prepared in good time for next year's growing season.

If you would like a growing space at Hill House in Harefield call Michael Dent on 01895 823308.

A SINGALONG next week sounds like a fun evening as it has an Abba theme.

Meryl Streep may not be there but the sun and songs which made the film of Mamma Mia so popular will be recreated in the church Hall in the High Street, on December 5.

A meze selection will help the Greek atmosphere along and sparkly costumes and platform boots will of course be positively encouraged.

Tickets costing £10, including food, can be booked on 01895 825419.

HAREFIELD is proving to be a thriving centre for the arts with two exhibitions coming up.
From Friday, November 28 to December 5, artist Vivienne Dixon's landscape and portrait paintings can be viewed at Amberley Gallery, though the exhibition is closed on Monday.

Also on display at the same time will be a selection of new Harefield photographs by George Morris, who lives in the village, and whose pictures are always popular.

The exhibitions can be seen between 10am and 4.30pm, and Mr Morris has added a new dimension - find Harriet in his pictures - though he would not give any more away.

MONTHS of hard grafting and well maintained spaces were recognised at Hillingdon's annual allotments competition prize-giving ceremony.

The annual contest, organised by the council and Hillingdon Allotment and Horticultural Federation, saw first prize for best kept plot awarded to Allan Ellingham for his allotment in Hill House Allotment Site, Harefield.

Second and third prizes went to Audrey and Michael Kilmartin and Barbara Toull, respectively.

Judging for the competition takes place between June and August each year and all allotment holders are automatically entered.

Mary Worrall, Head of Highways and Green Spaces, presented the prizes and added that: "Allotments play an important part in contributing to Hillingdon's green spaces."

Ms Worrall highlighted the health and social benefits of being an allotment holder, saying they "benefit from the fruits of their labour" and the "chance to meet new friends".

Hayes End Allotment Site won best large site, with best small site going to Hill House.
A further prize was awarded to West Drayton Cemetery Allotments, for best council managed site.

Leaflets on how to find allotment sites across the borough are available from all libraries and the Civic Centre.

AN interesting-sounding series of talks has been arranged for Wednesdays in Harefield under the umbrella title, Am I a Free Thinker?

The Reverend Dr Jules Gomes will lead the advent lectures at St Mary's Church Hall in the High Street, which all begin at 8pm.

The subjects are:
November 26: Freedom Gets a Spanking; knife crime and the morality of Max Mosley.
December 3: Truth Decay: When the BBC no longer tells the whole truth.
December 10: Multiculturalism: Melting pot, salad bowl, or simmering cauldron?

Admission is free.

EMILY'S DIARY is the theme of the next gathering of the Harefield History Society which meets on November 24.
Guest speaker Ken Pearce will talk about life for a young girl living in Uxbridge in the 1800s.

Do not be put off by the refurbishment work going on at the library, as the meeting will still take place in the Park Lane Village Centre, which is on the same campus.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be on offer after the meeting as usual.

STUDENTS from Harefield Academy spoke to drivers who were pulled over by police on Tuesday, November 11 for speeding along Northwood Road.

Residents, parents, and staff at the school, have petitioned for safety measures outside the school, after several accidents there.

PC Rachel Osgood, who organised the clampdown, said they issued four tickets (which mean a £60 fine and three points on the licence) for drivers doing more than 36 mph.

One woman will be taken to court for dangerous driving.

Those doing below 36mph were given 'words of advice' from police, and more importantly pupils, who reminded them that their lives were at risk.

PC Osgood said: "This was a good opportunity to make drivers aware of the dangers of speeding, especially in an area that is experiencing problems.

"We would like to thank the pupils for joining us and putting across the message of the dangers of speeding. People really listened to them."