Ruislip Residents’ Association TOWN CRIER September 2015 www.ruislipresidents.org.uk

Boris Johnson News from our new MP

A Tale of Two Great by Eileen Bowlt RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Founded 1919 PRESIDENT CONTENTS Brian Cowley

VICE-PRESIDENTS Joan Davis Peter Lansdown 3 Editorial

CHAIRMAN 4 Community Noticeboard Graham Bartram 5 Chairman's Message VICE-CHAIRMAN Mike Hodge 6 Boris Johnson MP TREASURER MP for Manor Ward John Hawley 7 Nick Hurd MP SECRETARY Pamela Edwards MP for West & East Ruislip Wards

CHIEF ROAD STEWARD 8 A Tale of Two Great Barns Jack Greiller 11 Police Points DEPUTY CHIEF ROAD STEWARD Alan Jones 14 Education News EXECUTIVE Vivien Alcorn 18 Health Matters John Swindells Jaqueline Bolton John Williams 20 Councillors' Comments Susan Midgley 22 Planning Update EDITOR Graham Bartram 23 Houses of Parliament Visit ✎ [email protected] ✆ 01895 673310 24 General Meeting - Notice CONTACT US Pamela Edwards Honorary Secretary Ruislip Residents’ Association 98 Eastcote Road Ruislip Middlesex HA4 8DT ✆ 01895 674148 ✎ [email protected] www.ruislipresidents.org.uk

2 Ruislip TOWN CRIER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Editorial Jaqueline Bolton POLICE LIAISON Brian Gunn

CONSERVATION Paul Mitchell Painting the Forth Bridge... PUBLIC TRANSPORT Graham Bartram The work of a Residents’ Association is never done. Just when you think you have solved one problem, EDUCATION Susan Midgley another crops up to replace it. All you can do is try and keep on top of it all. Ruislip Manor has had a lot RAF NORTHOLT LIAISON Peter Lansdown of work done and it is now looking a lot better, but recently I took a long hard look at Ruislip High Street ENVIRONMENT Christine Andrews and decided it needs some work. The pavement has not been well maintained and needs work, some RUISLIP LIDO Peter Lansdown of the shopfronts are pretty awful and many of the upper storeys have not been redecorated in many HEALTH Joan Davis years. The High Street is a conservation area and real- ly should look better, especially given the huge rents RUISLIP RETAIL AREA that the building owners are charging the shops! Pamela Edwards MANOR RETAIL AREA I had hoped to hand over the editorship of Town Joan Davis Crier by now, but sadly my replacement has had SOCIAL ACTIVITIES to withdraw, so I am back at square one. If anyone Vivien Alcorn knows Adobe InDesign and would like to volunteer MEMBERSHIP to help with preparing the Town Crier, please con- Brian Cowley tact me. We have a template which makes putting TRAFFIC & PARKING the magazine together reasonably straightforward. Brian Cowley

MINUTES SECRETARY Patricia Wardle

WEBSITE Graham Bartram John Swindells Graham Bartram, Editor Pro Tem PLANNING Mike Hodge Please note that the views expressed in articles in the Town Crier are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Ruislip WOODLANDS Residents’ Association. Vacant

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 3 FRIENDS OF EASTCOTE HOUSE GARDEN www.eastcotehousegardens.weebly.com Eastcote House Volunteer Gardeners meet on the 1st Friday, 2nd Friday and 3rd Thursday of every month, at 9.30am. Everyone welcome - tools and refreshments provided - no experience necessary. Meet in the car park at Eastcote House Gardens. Gardening dates: September 4th, 11th, 17th; October 2nd, 9th, 15th; November 6th, 11th 19th; December 4th, 11th, 17th. Conservation dates: September 24th, October 22nd, November 26th.

Open House: September 20th; Tree Dressing: November 28th.

HILLINGDON DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY Lecture Programme Late 2015 Wednesdays at 2.00pm, Winston Churchill Hall - admission £6 to non-members 9 September AGM & The Art of the American Civil War Tricha Passes 14 October Past Imperfect: Why World War II art Shauna Isaac looting is still an issue today 9 December Three Wise Men: Gold, Frankincense and Christopher Bradley Myrrh – traditions of the Magi 13 January The Power of Jewellery: Adornment and Judy Rudoe Ritual from Prehistory to the Present

RUISLIP, NORTHWOOD & EASTCOTE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Lecture Programme 2015 Meetings held in St Martin’s Church Hall, 8.15pm. Visitors welcome.

21 September From Shillibeer to Borismaster: The Story of the London Bus John Wagstaff 19 October Rogers of Eastcote House: London HA An 18th Century Lady of Property Eileen Bowlt RNELHS

4 Ruislip TOWN CRIER Chairman’s Message RRA

Summer is well and the top of the embankment, not people's truly underway, a gardens. It turns out one tunnel goes un- typical British Sum- der the railway embankment and the oth- mer with hot sun- er is under the land just to the north of it, ny days, followed often people's gardens and sheds. Even by torrential down- given these two “misunderstandings” HS2 pours and flooding! Oh Ltd could not make the sum add up and well, at least it isn't snowing... appear to have lost the odd metre or two!

We have had success with our appeal Council consultations are something for new people to join the Executive that have come up recently with many Committee: Paul Mitchell has agreed residents unhappy with the way these to take on the Conservation portfolio, are publicised and carried out. The matter Brian Gunn is now our Police Liasion and has been raised with the Council's Head Christine Andrews is our new Environment of Democratic Services, but apparently it person. I welcome all three to our Executive is up to each department to organise its and hope they enjoy their work there. own consultations, so there is no central expertise on how to do it well, and no HS2 goes ever onwards, like some awful one to complain to if it does not work. We Juggernaut. The Select Committee ap- will be taking this up with the Council in pears to have rejected our request for a the coming months, both as RRA and as tunnel extension to the M25, so it looks members of the Hillingdon Association of as if we will have to petition to the House Residents’ Associations (HARA). of Lords Select Committee, if the bill gets that far. Several Ruislip people had a Sainsbury's in Ruislip High Street and the meeting with HS2 Ltd in July to discuss ASDA and cinema in South Ruislip should a serious discrepancy in the information start construction in the coming weeks. HS2 Ltd provided residents about the tun- nel we are getting. It turns out that the I hope to see as many of you as possible at tunnel is nowhere near as deep as we had our meeting in October (see the back page), been led to believe. First the depth was but in the meantime if you see me on the measured to the track level, not the top High Street feel free to stop me for a chat! of the tunnel, then it was measured from Graham Bartram, Chairman, ✆ 01895 673310

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 5 6 A tunnelwas rightandnecessary. Our MP for Ward Manor Boris So it is very disappointing that we itisvery wereSo view: theHS2isnotacceptable incurrent view: all the projects thatall the projects will help to take the as they contemplated the horror ahead - Whether asChairof TfL orMPfor Ux underneath theColne Valley, andIwill damage doneby the “exit wound”. In themeantime weIn are pushing on with Hurd mitigation - infighting for further the country. tee tunnelextension to gofor afurther train howling through theirbackgardens. their apple trees demolished and a giant be joining my and colleague friend Nick not ableto persuadetheHS2commit bridge and South RuislipItakethesame andSouth bridge protecting HOAC andminimising the form eitherfor London or for therest of

Ruislip Politics TOWN CRIER the faces ofresidents I wasto thrilled have Johnson genuine anguishon played a part inget played apart lip. Iremember the under South Ruis under South ting theHS2tunnel - - - - ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ L ✎ ✆

So farIhaveSo heldsixadvice surgeries, and Nation fice if you thinkImay beable to help: visited businesses and schools and social cillors of Hillingdon, whoinmycillors ofHillingdon, viewset an example to therest ofLondon -provid area forward, andonwhichIcampaigned a real to privilege beyour MP-andplease enterprises allover theconstituency. is It do nothesitate to getintouch withmy of It isareal pleasureIt to work withthecoun in my manifesto: ing excellent at thelowest services possi ble council tax. That iswhat sensible ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ @borisjohnson Looking atLooking ways to improve thelocal Protecting green space from inappro improvementsDelivering further to Help high streets inthearea. bus serv priate development. plans for modernisation. 020 72194682 [email protected] MP government shouldbeallabout. ing Hillingdon Hospital withtheir ing Hillingdon ices. One One - - - - - Politics Nick Hurd MP From our MP for the West & East Ruislip Wards

Ruislip residents will share my deep disap- stage if we do not get pointment at last month’s decision by the a credible mitigation HS2 Select Committee not to look further solution. Frankly, I at a tunnel extension. I argued alongside am now less opti- Hillingdon Council, that the Committee mistic that we will did not have good enough information to be presented with assess the true cost of a tunnel, compared something that is ac- to the viaduct. More work needed to be ceptable. However the fight continues. done, not least because HS2’s numbers were dodgy and incomplete. That contin- Please do not hesitate to contact me re- ues to be my belief. garding HS2 or any other matter at: ✎ [email protected] Our petitions have not been in vain L @nick-hurdMP though. The Committee have accept- www.nickhurd.com ed our argument that more needs to be done to mitigate the horrendous impact from construction on the area. They want to look at options around the railhead. They are not convinced by HS2’s plans for traffic. They want to see a solution for HOAC. All this is welcome in pushing HS2 to improve their plans, and we must see what emerges. However it feels like a poor compromise compared to the cleanest solution of a tunnel.

I continue to oppose the current HS2 plans. As I have stated for well over a year Nick with members of the HS2 Select Com- now, I will vote against HS2 at the next mittee during their visit earlier in the year.

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 7 8 1086 (Domesday andbothhave Book) a Abbeys, to theAbbey Eileen Bowlt Eileen A Taleof Saxon somewhat times, Harmondsworth ship in 1404, and was eventually given to was soldto sworth William of Wykeham ownedsex Being properties. by French c.1087 abbeys by deHesdin.Both Ernulf William IandRuislipto theAbbey ofBec olas at Cambridge (King’s College) in1451. gave up their English lands. Harmond ontheirMiddle established priories of Holy Trinity atin1069by Rouen King thanRuislip.earlier and hadapriest Both Ruislip passedoutofBec’s owner direct placesBoth were given to Benedictine Ruislip and Har speaking, Historically in 1391 and given as an endowment to have been settled continuously since his newly-established his newly-established . the King’s andSt Nich College ofSt Mary was almostcontinuous andbothfinally tucked away insideitssouthporch. therefore presumably achurch before mondsworth church door has a Norman mondsworth havemondsworth many similarities. Both mid-14th century whenwar withFrancemid-14th century monks, bothbecameAlien Priories inthe later medieval church surviving. The Har

Ruislip History TOWN CRIER TwoGreatBarns ------The portion ofRuislip, Street,The portion west ofBury somewhat circuitous route. Holy Trinity called Southcote on the north sideofLa called Southcote onthenorth age. We itasSt Catherine’s know Man ofHarmondsworth. administered aspart as Westwood. or, a namethat arrived inRuislipviaa ent) that canbetraced through Mad (abitovergrownembankment at pres especially whentheProctor-General was hadamoated house of Harmondsworth of Alexandria, to whomthetownfolk of de Hesdin’s to gift Bec, having previously dygate what was Lane andlookedafter It was separatedIt physically from theAb Bess Bess Wood, Street.is It parallel withBury Ruislip Priory seems to haveRuislip Priory flourished, hadagreatRouen devotion. The forester was popularly known asSt Catherine’swas known popularly topped by ofgreat stubbedhornbeam the RiverPinn, was excluded from Ernulf then unenclosedwooded waste, known bey of Bec’s by the splendid property been granted to Holy Trinity, andbeing because ithadafingerof St Catherine from thetopBess ofMad Wood down to living there in the mid-13th century and living there inthemid-13thcentury RUISLIP GREAT - - - - the accounts of all the English manors the roof and other techniques like the use belonging to Bec, were brought here for of passing braces. It takes the form of a the General Audit. The monks grew crops, nave with aisles, built in seven bays with wheat, peas, beans and some barley on a Queen post roof, hipped at both ends. A their extensive arable lands running from waggon door in either side allows through Eastcote Road to Sharvel Lane on the passage. It is 120 feet long and 32 feet ridge way beyond the Polish War Memo- wide. The timber posts rest on a flint cill, rial. The monks were rectors of Ruislip as largely repaired with brick over the centu- well as lords of the manor and were enti- ries. The roof was tiled from the start. A til- tled to the Great Tithes (wheat and other er is listed in a list of servants of the manor crops). Small tithes like eggs and garden in 1300. Dendrochronolgical tests on the produce went to the vicar. So it is no sur- main posts show that the trees were cut prise that around 1300 work was begun down about 1300. The amount of timber, on a Great Barn, in which to store all this the number and status of expert workmen produce. There is one reference to it as the involved, could only have been afforded ‘great tithing barn’, so it may have been in- by an institution, such as an abbey or col- tended specifically for the tithe corn. lege. Similar, but earlier barns can be seen at Cressing Temple in Essex, owned by the Knights Templar and at Coggeshall, built for an Augustinian Priory.

Ruislip’s Great Barn in 2012. The lean-to sheds in the foreground are later addi- tions to the original structure. There were already barns around the courtyard, but the new one was to be spectacular in quality as well as size. The carpentry has been described by experts as ‘King’s carpenter’ standard because of Edwin Gunn’s sketch of the Great Barn's the complicated types of joints used in interior in 1930.

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 9 HARMONDSWORTH GREAT BARN lip Residents’ Association, acting with a In 1424 work began on the Great Barn that sympathetic Ruislip-Northwood Urban still stands (threatened by Air- District Council and helped by the gener- port expansion). William Kyppynge, a well- osity of King’s College. known carpenter, and John atte Oke chose timber, which was floated downstream Harmondsworth Barn was used as a farm from Kingston-on-Thames. The work was building until 1973, when the manor was finished by 1427. As at Ruislip the barn purchased by Wiltshire PLC, who con- is aisled, but is much bigger, having 12 verted other farm buildings into offices, bays and being 192 feet long. The main but restored the Great Barn as an ancient posts rest on green sandstone blocks and monument. The site was offered to both the plinth beneath the walls is ferrocrete the London Borough of Hillingdon and found locally. The roof trusses are King for £1 after the firm went post. The two waggon doors are on the into receivership in 2006. Both declined same side and there is a hipped roof. and it was bought by a speculator hoping to make a killing if Heathrow expansion should include the barn. The barn fell into disrepair and eventually English Heritage took compulsory action, made urgent re- pairs and eventually bought it for £20,000. It is now being refurbished.

A sketch of the interior of Harmond- sworth’s Great Barn. Ruislip and Harmondsworth continued to be agricultural villages into the Twen- The roof of Harmondsworth Great Barn tieth century. The Great Barn at Ruislip being restored by English Heritage. was used for agricultural purposes until 1932 and was saved along with the rest Visit both barns over the Open House of Manor Farm, by the pertinacity and weekend, 19-20 September, and see the foresightedness of members of the Ruis- medieval craftsmanship for yourselves.

10 Ruislip TOWN CRIER Police Police Points Inspector Rob Bryan

I would like to take this click on a link and confirm your bank opportunity to raise details. crime awareness ◆◆ Use strong passwords: a strong pass- about a number of word is one that contains a minimum crime types that are of 10 characters lolland is a combination becoming more and of letters, numbers and special charac- more prevalent: ters. Use different ID/password combi- nations for different accounts. ADVICE TO PREVENT YOURSELF FROM ◆◆ Be Social-Media Aware: make sure your BECOMING A VICTIM OF CYBER-CRIME social networking profiles are set to pri- ◆◆Secure your computer by activating vate and check your security settings. your firewall: firewalls are the first line ◆◆ Protect Your Data: make regular back- of cyber defence; they block connec- ups of all your important data and store tions to unknown or bogus sites and it in a separate location. Consider using will keep out some types of viruses encryption for essential files. and hackers. Use up-to-date anti-vi- ◆◆ Protect your e-identity: verify the creden- rus/malware software - this can help tials of organisations and people prior to prevent viruses from infecting your giving out any personal information. computer. ◆◆ When making on-line purchases make ◆◆ Install the latest operating system up- sure that the websites you are using dates: turn on automatic updates to pre- are secure. Using public Wi-Fi 'hot vent potential attacks on older software. spots’ can also leave you vulnerable to ◆◆Avoid being scammed: the majority of a cyber attack. Where possible do not viruses are delivered via a false email use them to conduct financial transac- that asks you to click on a link. These tions. are often malicious and users should ◆◆ Secure your mobile device: Mobile de- not open unsolicited emails. Remem- vices can also be vulnerable to hackers ber banks and financial institutes will and viruses. Ensure all downloads ap- not send you an email asking you to plications are from trusted sources.

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 11 DON’T BECOME A VICTIM OF FRAUD By reporting you will make it more diffi- ◆◆ Be suspicious of all ‘too good to be true’ cult for them to deceive others. offers and deals. There are no guaran- ◆◆ If you receive a suspicious phone call teed get rich-quick schemes. end it immediately. Hang up the phone. ◆◆ Do not agree to offers or deals imme- In order to clear your line from the diately. Insist on having sufficient time scammer, wait at least 5 minutes be- to obtain independent or legal advice fore making any calls. DO NOT hand before making a decision. over any money or items purchased as ◆◆ Do not hand over money or sign any- a result of this type of phone call. thing until you have checked the cre- ◆◆ Please be aware of the following: dentials of the company or individual 1. Your bank will never attend your home, involved. 2. Your bank and the police will never ◆◆ Never send money or give bank or collect your bank card, 3. Your bank and personal details to anyone you do not the police will never ask for your PIN. know or trust (whether in the UK or abroad) or use methods of payment As always, if you want to contact me di- that you are not comfortable with. rectly, the quickest way is at: ◆◆ Never give banking or personal details ✎ [email protected] to anyone you do not know or trust. This information is valuable - make sure that you protect it. ◆◆Always log on to a website directly rath- er than clicking on links provided in an email. ◆◆Always get independent or legal advice if an offer involves money, time or com- mitment. ◆◆ If you spot a scam or have been scammed, report it and get help. Con- tact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at actionfraud.police.uk. Contact the police if the suspect is known or still in the area. ◆◆ Do not be embarrassed to report a scam. Scammers are cunning and clev- er there is no shame in being deceived.

12 Ruislip TOWN CRIER WARD PANEL REPORT themselves from crime such as scams and Brian Gunn, Police Liasion burglary/theft. Whilst I am on that subject, The West Ruislip Safer Neighbourhood those who are over 65 can take advan- panel met on the 24th June at Ruislip Po- tage of a scheme offered by Hillingdon lice station. The Police representative, Sgt Council and ask for a free burglar alarm Eleanor Charlston, presented the panel to be installed if they do not yet have an with a "crime map" accompanied by a alarm system. Meanwhile for all of us it is helpful report detailing police activity in worth reminding ourselves of basic meas- the area. We learnt that the neighbour- ures such as checking all doors are locked hood police team now consists of Sgt and windows shut (and locked, if locks are Charlston, PC Helen Low and PCSO Paul fitted) before leaving home! And remem- Brighton (the latter 2 officers you may al- ber that on modern uPVC doors, pulling ready have seen cycling around the area the handle up doesn't actually lock the as part of their duties!) The team have door - you need to turn the key! been cracking down hard on criminals who have been causing problems for busi- We also learnt of police efforts to reduce nesses in the High Street - making arrests motor vehicle crime under an initiative for theft and drug offences that were de- started by Sgt Shard which has seen very tected. As a result I am pleased to report positive results. that incidences of theft from High Street businesses have fallen significantly. PC Sgt Charlston's report also covered com- Low has been holding presentations to munity engagement where the team has major stores and providing much needed visited Whiteheath Infant School May Fair, training for the staff on security awareness. talking to the children about how to stay safe as well as educating the children on Also of note is that the incidence of bur- the work of police officers. The team sup- glary in the area has fallen by 35% - from ported the Ruislip Woods Festival, engag- 17 down to 11 in the three months prior ing with members of the community, an- to the meeting. Although this is welcome swering their questions and concerns, as news the police are not complacent about well as offering crime prevention advice. these figures. Crime prevention and reas- The team also organised a "meet your lo- surance visits have been made to all those cal police team" session for West Ruislip who were the unfortunate victims. PCSO Cubs - and I gather that they were met Paul Brighton has recently been holding with some very frank and challenging talks for senior citizens groups, raising questions about police work! awareness of how residents can protect ✎ [email protected]

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 13 Schools Education News Susan Midgley

MR LAKE LEAVES WARRENDER with the friendly atmosphere of the school JUNIOR SCHOOL and the good manners of the pupils. He After eleven years as Headteacher, Mr spent a few weeks at the end of term Paul Lake left Warrender Junior School getting to know the staff and pupils and at the end of the Summer term. Mr Lake, learning about the ethos of the school in like most committed members of the order to make a smooth transition at the teaching profession, said that most of all beginning of the new school year. he would miss the children. The aspect of the job that he would be pleased to leave Mr Lake will be greatly missed by the staff, behind was all the paper work which kept pupils and parents whom he has served him from contact with the pupils which with dedication throughout his term of gave him the most pleasure. office. He has made Warrender Junior School one of the most highly regarded Mr Lake will not, however, be leaving edu- schools in Ruislip. cation as he is becoming a link tutor, mov- ing from school to school advising trainee teachers. With his wealth of experience he will certainly be a great help to the students.

Mrs Lake, who also taught at the school, retired at the end of term. After a rest peri- od she plans to involve herself in voluntary work. Both Mr and Mrs Lake are volunteer dog walkers for the Dogs’ Trust in Harefield.

Mr Mike Smith will be the new Headteach- er in September. He previously held the post of Assistant Headteacher at a primary school in Ealing. Mr Smith was impressed Mr Lake and Mr Smith

14 Ruislip TOWN CRIER The Ruislip Residents’ Association send their good wishes to Mr and Mrs Lake for a happy and fulfilled future. We also wish Mr Smith success in his new post.

LATEST NEWS FROM BISHOP WINNINGTON-INGRAM C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL On Tuesday July 14th, the school held the finals of their annual Young Musi- cian of the Year Award. There were three groups of finalists: Beginner-Grade 2, Ensemble and Grade 3 and above. The judges, Esme Porter and Louis Cowling, Caleb Huang, Esme Porter, Louis Cowling, were GCSE Music students from Bishop Hyunwoo Kim and Thea Cooke (L to R) Ramsey School and ex-pupils of BWI. The competition was hosted by Mrs Chris- Natasha Baker MBE, Paralympic double tine Britton, the school’s music special- gold medal winner for the dressage eques- ist, who introduced each performer. In trian event in the 2012 Games, visited the between the sections the audience was school on Monday, July 20th. to present entertained by Esme who gave a piano certificates to two pupils in Year 6 who recital and Louis who gave an exciting had raised £100 for South Bucks Riding for performance on the drums. the Disabled. It was a wonderful occasion; she met the pupils, gave an interesting ac- Mrs Gill Westbrook, the school’s Head- count of her career, answered questions teacher, presented the certificates to the after the whole school assembly and was group finalists and a certificate and cup to kind enough to stay to sign autographs. the overall winner. She was completely charming and an in- spiration to everyone present. The winners were: Beginner-Grade 2 Hyun- woo Kim, Ensemble Zac, Ella, Max, James, On Tuesday, July 21st. the school held Grade 3 and above Thea Cooke and Young their Annual Awards Assembly and was Musician of the Year 2015 Caleb Huang. All delighted to welcome James Coleman, the finalists also received a £10 voucher Head Boy of Bishop Ramsey School as and Caleb was given a £25 voucher to Guest of Honour to present the certifi- spend at Pro Music, . cates, medals and cups. After the pres-

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 15 entations James gave a short talk to the Two students who deserve a special men- pupils, recalling his days as a pupil at BWI tio are Daniel Gibson and Rosie Castle, and telling them of his plans to study both of whom were awarded two prizes. medicine at University. He was very well Daniel received the John Cule prize for received and a credit to both schools. Drama which is named after the school’s first Headteacher and a Year 10 Ramsey BISHOP RAMSEY SCHOOL’S PRIZE GIVING Award. Rosie’s prizes were for Physical Edu- On Thursday June 18th, the school cation and Design and Technology. held their prize giving to celebrate the achievements of students from Years 7 A very special staff award was presented to 10. A welcome speech was delivered to Mrs Helen Simmons, Head of Drama, by Year 10 students, Scott McCreeth and who had been nominated for the Pearson Anna Thompson. This was followed by Teacher of the Year Award. Mrs Simmons the crystal clear voice of Deborah Jardine achieved the Silver Award which makes performing Hold Back the River by James her one of the nine best teachers in the Bay; she was accompanied on the piano country. She will go forward for the Gold by Reanna Gregory, both Year 8 students. Award later in the year.

Mr Wilcock then presented his Head- Having presented the prizes Nick Hurd teacher’s Report which recorded the suc- then addressed the assembled students. cesses the school had achieved on many His most important piece of advice to fronts during the past academic year. Mr them was: Don’t be afraid to fail as you can Wilcock’s pride in his staff and students learn much of value from your failures and was warmly expressed. pursue the path that makes you happy.

A piano recital was then given by Year As the audience left the hall there was a 9 student Andrei Anghel who played retiring collection in aid of Bishop Ram- Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude. Andrei sey’s partner school, Malosa School in displayed an amazing talent for one so Malawi, which has been badly affected by young and when interviewed at the end floods this year. of the proceedings, he came across as a charming and modest young man. His BISHOP RAMSEY PRODUCTION performance was rapturously applauded. SOCIETY PRESENTED GREASE For four evenings in the final week of the The Form and Subject prizes were then pre- summer term the Production Society gave sented by Guest of Honour, Nick Hurd MP. some amazing performances of the musi-

16 Ruislip TOWN CRIER cal Grease. Set in 1959 at the fictional USA’s Other performances worthy of special Rydell High School it follows the fortunes mention were Toby Poole as Kenickie, Dan- of ten senior class students from the peri- iel Gibson as Sonny, Sarah Howden as Riz- od’s working class sub-culture known as zo and Alannah Coleman as Patty. These Greasers. The plot explores the themes of students formed one cast – there were two peer pressure, togetherness and friendship. others which included younger students! The heart of the story is the romance be- tween Greaser Danny Zuko and new girl on One of the highlights of the production the block, Sandy Dumbrowski who met in was the unexpected appearance of the the summer. However, back in school, peer systematic, hydromatic, ultramatic car, pressure and cliques make life complicated Greased Lightnin’. At the appropriate mo- for the pair. Danny must maintain his cool ment, greeted by appreciative gasps from dude status and Sandy finds it hard being the audience, the car was wheeled onto accepted by the more streetwise girls. the stage. This was a credit to the profes- sionalism of the stage crew, managed by The production was directed by Mrs H Miss E Neal, as all the scene changes were Simmons, Head of Drama and Mrs S Neale, performed very slickly. Head of Music. The band was conducted by Mr D Cullum. Much of the choreography was directed by students past and present.

This version of the musical included many of the original hits such as Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’ and You’re The One That I Want. The whole production was a fan- tastic combination of acting, singing and dancing from start to finish. All the per- Danny and Sandy in Greased Lightnin’ formers were excellent but some stood out from the crowd. Daniel Manchorov as Congratulations must go to everyone Danny was a star, strutting his stuff, flick- concerned in this wonderful evening’s en- ing his hair in true Greaser style, together tertainment. with a great voice he brought his character to life. Fleur Mahdessi-Sarkissian was com- Residents may read fuller reports on the pletely convincing as the demure, naive above by visiting the Education section Sandy. Her rendition, alone on the stage, on the RRA website. of Totally Devoted To You was very moving. ✎ [email protected]

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 17 Health Health Matters Joan Davis

NATIONAL ISSUES on these referrals, with patients referred Happy Local NHS Staff: It is generally back to their GPs for further action where agreed that happy staff provide good possible, but a number of exclusions on patient services, so it is excellent that all clinical grounds permit immediate inter- three of Hillingdon’s NHS service provid- nal referrals within hospitals if necessary. ers are in the Health Service Journal’s 100 best places to work in the NHS in England London Ambulance Service: This is the – Central & North West London FT, Royal busiest emergency ambulance service Brompton & Harefield FT, and The Hilling- in the UK. Staffing is an issue given the don Hospitals FT. Hillingdon people are shortage of paramedics, but LAS has a ro- very lucky - possibly even unique! bust recruitment plan with more joiners than leavers. The Secretary of State’s July Vision for the NHS: This included the need for 7day Ealing Hospital’s Maternity, Neonatal NHS services, to ensure that patients are and Gynaecology Services Closed on 1st safe at weekends. It also included the July: Patients have been transferred to establishment of NHS Improvement, the other hospitals, including Hillingdon. new name for the jointly led Trust De- velopment Authority and Monitor – the HILLINGDON CLINICAL COMMISSIONING Chair Designate is Ed Smith. GROUP (CCG) Mental Health Urgent Care: There is cur- Very Senior Managers’ Pay: Salaries rently no coherent mental health urgent above £142,500 must now be cleared care pathway in Hillingdon, so patients with Monitor and NHS England. The op- often use Accident & Emergency services portunity to “retire and return” is to end. at Hillingdon Hospital for crisis care. If ap- proved, the proposed pathway, from 1st REGIONAL ISSUES October 2015, will deliver a single point Policy on Referrals within Hospitals: The of entry for three Outer London Boroughs eight NW London CCGs have a joint policy - Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon – each with

18 Ruislip TOWN CRIER an enhanced Home Treatment Crisis Re- & North Herts. NHS Trust to improve the sponse Team providing a response with- Mount Vernon Cancer Centre wards are in 4 hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. progressing - the two chairmen will meet CNWL will provide £1.98m to support the in August and meetings are also under- proposal and in a full year (2016/17) Hill- way with the local planning authority. ingdon CCG will provide £357k. Finances: The Trust is under increased fi- Central & North West London FT’s Con- nancial stress. In June 2015, the Trust de- tract: Agreement on the 2015/16 contract livered £472k savings, £247k short of its has been reached in principle. This Trust plan. Reduction in patient length of stay provides Hillingdon’s mental health and and workforce savings are a big part of community health services. Sadly, Hill- the current savings programme. ingdon’s historic poor funding of mental health is not improved in the new contract. Charitable Funds: In Quarter 1, income was £28k and expenditure £41k with Finance: The CCG expects to meets its £677k in reserve. A fundraiser is to be ap- planned surplus of £3.482m at year end in pointed. This will be a senior post, with in- March 2016, providing it receives expect- terviews in September, and an expected ed allocations from North West London start date before Christmas 2015. and expenditure is in line with its plans. ROYAL BROMPTON & HAREFIELD Integrated Care Planning: Hillingdon NHS FT Care Community has applied to be one Harefield Activity: In 2014/15 25 heart of six early adopters in a pilot developing and 49 lung transplants were undertaken a joined-up patient record across all care and 47 ventricular assist devices were im- settings, which will be available to pa- planted. Respiratory activity there contin- tients and will support direct care. The pi- ues to grow ahead of plan. lot will initially support the 17 practices in North Hillingdon and the care providers Angioplasty: Harefield pioneered prima- involved in the whole systems integrated ry angioplasty for heart attacks and has care programme for over 65s; if success- one of the fastest UK arrival to treatment ful the system will be deployed across the times. whole of Hillingdon. Harefield’s Cardiac Catheterisation Lab- THE HILLINGDON HOSPITALS NHS FT oratories: This is one of the top facilities Mount Vernon: Negotiations with East in Europe.

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 19 Politics Councillors’ Comments Cllr John Riley

Eastcote and East Ruislip Ward – Catherine Dann, Nick Denys, Becky Haggar Manor Ward – Michael Markham, Douglas Mills, Susan O’Brien West Ruislip Ward – Philip Corthorne, Brian Crowe, John Riley

The cycle of the Town organisation surrounding the sittings of Crier means that I the Select Committee and certainly from am usually writing a councillor’s point of view the daily work a piece that will be of Cllr Susan O’Brien in co-ordinating ef- published weeks af- forts and keeping us well informed was a ter events, so this is significant and greatly appreciated effort. written in August; sum- mer holidays to look forward to, children We cannot let this opportunity pass with- returned from University or off school for out paying tribute to our Council Officers that long summer break, for some swelter- who have assisted us all with information, ing journeys on the Tube, and then gearing helped with our presentations and given up for the ‘back to normal’ in September. us guidance. We are very grateful for all The year seems to have gone so quickly their behind the scenes and ‘up front’ work. and with so much done and happened. Indeed as many residents will already know the Hillingdon Officer team spoke with HS2 great authority and skill at the Committee, For local Councillors, our major preoccupa- dealing with many technical aspects of our tion, like so many of our residents, has been objections and concerns. Some of our most HS2. The culmination of years of hard work senior Officers made presentations and -at on all fronts and in many ways came with tended the Hearings on a regular basis. the HS2 Select Committee Hearings in the House of Commons, Committee Room 5. Again, and we cannot reiterate this enough, the immense effort, support, passion, skil- As an initial observation we were extreme- fully argued presentations and commit- ly impressed with the information and ment to the opposition to HS2 and its ef-

20 Ruislip TOWN CRIER fects on this area shown by our Residents pressive factor for the Committee. We had in the RRA area, Ickenham and elsewhere to accept that we were not fighting the was extraordinary. Those who were pres- decision to build but seeking “proper mit- ent to witness the days of presentations, igation” in the event of the build of this ill but for me at least, especially on the 29th conceived, geographically misplaced and and 30th June saw a show of ‘force’ by res- wasteful project. We were all united in our idents and others [including your Chair- request to the Committee for a tunnel ex- man], that was deeply moving, passionate tension through Ruislip / Ickenham and and full of principle. People talked of the out into Buckinghamshire. utter devastation of the HS2 build as they saw it on their home area, speeches were Despite all our efforts we now know the made that demonstrated the futility of Committee’s decision but the fight and the project, the unnecessary harm to our commitment goes on; as councillors we area, the blight that will be visited on us, know that the vast expense on this pro- the many years of expected upheaval for ject is misplaced and we will fight and transport and the people of this area being press for as much mitigation as we can. able to go about our lives over future years. We are extremely proud of how our com- Listening to these various presentations munity has responded to this issue. from residents, in groups and individuals, from local organisations and others, I saw THE HIGH STREET a community united in our resolve against By the time you read this Ruislip High this terrible scheme but more especially a Street will have had all the resurfacing and community with a real sense of wanting to other work completed. We are grateful for protect our area. Hillingdon is made up of everyone’s patience especially perhaps many smaller ‘towns’ or ‘villages’ and that the businesses in the High Street and the sense of real community, belonging, his- Chamber of Commerce. Judging from tory and ‘Home’ was fully on display in the the number of residents and visitors Select Committee hearings. we are back to a busy and vibrant local commercial centre. Many of your councillors spoke at the hear- ings including the Leader of the Council As councillors we continue as ever to re- and all three of the West Ruislip councillors. ceive communications from our residents Councillors representing Ruislip Manor and to fulfil all of our Council duties. We are and South Ruislip all spoke with reference now in the process of gearing up for the to their particular Wards and beyond; the London Assembly and Mayoral elections in show of strength and unity was an im- 2016, so it continues to be a busy year.

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 21 Planning Planning Update Mike Hodge & John Williams

9 ICKENHAM ROAD: This application, to lution, noise and floodlighting - all to the provide living accommodation in the roof detriment of local residents. space, has had its appeal dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate as an unsuitable 13 KING EDWARDS ROAD: The proposed development in a conservation area and two storey side extension and single storey having design concerns about the size of front extension having been refused by lo- the proposed accomodation. The inten- cal planners, the owner has submitted new tion was to create a first floor level with plans for a smaller side extension with no raised roof to house a one-bed flat with front extension. These have been approved. independent access over a barber’s shop. AUDEN HOUSE (formerly CHELMSINE COURT), BURY STREET: It is proposed to erect a three storey building to include six two-bed self-contained flats, with asso- ciated parking, cycle store, bin store and amenity space, involving the demolition of an existing two storey building. © Google StreetView 9 Ickenham Road

WAITROSE: We are sup- porting affected residents’ © Google StreetView© Google concerns over the pro- posed extended opening hours to the store, where it is considered that such a move would exacerbate an already known level of congestion, pol- Auden House, Bury Street

22 Ruislip TOWN CRIER WINDMILL PUBLIC HOUSE: A planning ap- 65 ST MARGARET’S ROAD: An application plication to create a gymnasium facility on to develop this property, to include front/ this partly developed site (at ground floor side/rear extensions and raising the roof level) would seem to be a starting point to allow the creation of a first floor level, for other retail units to set up, given the conversion of the roof space to habita- length of time since the site was first de- ble use and a rear dormer window was veloped, way back in 2007! approved on 20 August last year. A con- dition of this approval was that details of materials, colours and finishes to external surfaces should be submitted for approv- al. The applicant’s choice of the type and colour of roof tile to be used was consid- ered to be unsatisfactory and was refused by the Planning Committee. Although this case was subsequently referred to the Planning Inspectorate on appeal, the case was dismissed on 29 July, primarily due to a failure to harmonise with the character

© Google StreetView and appearance of other properties in the Corner of Pembroke Rd and Windmill Hill surrounding area.

Houses of Parliament Visit Vivien Alcorn

A visit to the Houses of Parliament, courtesy of Nick Hurd MP, will take place on November 27th. The visit is free, apart from the Tube fare, but is limited to 25 people, two per house- hold. If you would like to join us, please contact me at the email address below and include a contact number. We will try and ob- tain permits for more visits next year. ✎ [email protected]

Ruislip TOWN CRIER 23 RUIsLIP ReSIDEnTS’ aSSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING

7.45pm, Thursday, 22nd October 2015 Winston Churchill Hall Pinn Way, Ruislip HA4 7QL Doors open at 7.30pm The talk will be on Cyber Security (using computers and phones safely) and will be given by the Volunteer Police Cadets followed by an Open Forum, with questions to a panel of RRA representatives. The meeting will end at 10pm Wine, fruit juices and snacks will be served Open Forum items to the Secretary by Thursday, 15th October 2015 The next meeting is on the 17th February 2016