October 2008 Archives

A FUN fair is coming to Eastcote to help everyone get into the Christmas spirit.

Peter Petros, owner of Petros hairdressers in Field End Road and president of the Eastcote Association, has promised every shop in the high street will have Christmas lights this year.

He said: "We have got £3,500 from Hillingdon Council which we will put towards the lights and the fun fair, and the association will put forward whatever is needed.

"The lights have been on recently because we have been checking them to see which ones work, and all the bulbs that are broken will also be replaced.

"People have complained about the lights because we haven't managed to have them along the whole of the street, but we will this year. They should be switched on a few days before the fun fair."

The fun fair will come to Eastcote on November 29 and it is expected to stay the whole day.

A TEENAGER who battled cancer after being diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was just 14 attended a conference to meet others like him.

Jay Wheeler, 16, of Fleming Avenue, Eastcote, joined hundreds of other teenagers who have or have had cancer at the Find Your Sense Of Tumour conference organised by Teenage Cancer Trust.

For many of the 350 young people who attended the event, at Center Parcs in Nottinghamshire, it was their first chance to meet and share their experiences with other people their age who know what it is like to be diagnosed.

Jay said: "I wanted to go because I thought it might be a great way to meet teenagers like me who have had cancer. I wanted to know I was not the only one who went through it.

"I met lots of new people and made new friends and I am going to try to keep in contact with them.

"It was very educational as well; it gave me a wider understanding of cancer and chemotherapy.

"It was a really great experience."

Jay missed 18 months of school after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February last year after suffering from headaches, memory loss, sickness and lack of balance.

He said: "I felt quite isolated being at home and not being able to see my friends.

"It was quite tiring living with it. My friends would always try to keep me in the loop but I was quite lethargic and I didn't want to go out."

Jay was treated at Teenage Cancer Trust's unit at UCH in London, and after having courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, he finished his treatment in May this year.

He said: "The cancer has gone but there's a chance the tumour will come back, but only a small chance."

He has now gone back into the sixth form at Haydon School in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote, to do a media BTEC course and an English GCSE .

He said: Having cancer has definitely made me more mature - I would say to anyone who has just been diagnosed, to try and stay positive and keep their chin up. Tomorrow is a different day, some good, more bad. "

A TENNIS club has helped to raise £1,000 for the Hillingdon Hospital children's ward.

Excel-Pro Tennis Club in Field End Road, Eastcote, held a 24-hour tennis marathon to raise funds for the Peter Pan ward.

Almost 60 players took part in the event to keep one tennis ball on the court for 24 hours non-stop.

CHURCH members in Eastcote have set themselves a target to plant 75 trees in a year to mark the 75th anniversary of the dedication of the church building.

The Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Brian Crowe, planted the first tree at St Lawrence Church in Bridle Road, Eastcote, on October 12 to mark the start of the church's 75 Trees for 75 Years project.

The Reverend Stephen Dando said: "Over the next 12 months we want to make sure we have planted 75 trees, but I suspect we will plant more than that.

"Individual members of the church will plant trees in their own gardens, some will sponsor trees to be planted, and various organisations will also plant trees.

"Eastcote Residents' Association have expressed an interest in planting a tree and we will be talking to the schools as well.

"Although the idea sprung from us it's for the whole community. The trees will be planted throughout the parish. "

The project is just one of many events which has been held since the start of the year to mark the anniversary on Tuesday, October 21

Carlo Curley, the famous American organist, gave a recital at the church and a dedication ball was also held at the church.

Mr Dando said: "It's a major marking point so we wanted to celebrate it throughout the year with all sorts of events to include the whole community, and we couldn't cram it all into one day."

A special 75th Dedication Service is being held on October 21 at 8pm for anyone who wants to attend.

IT IS not too late to snap up tickets to see an internationally renowned concert which takes place in Eastcote.

Carlo Curley's Organ Extravaganza will take place at St Lawrence Church Eastcote, Bridle Road, on Friday, October 10.

Mr Curley is a dynamic and entertaining International Concert Organist and will perform on a specially hired three-manual Makin digital organ.

Admission is ticket only and costs £8 with wine and refreshments available during the interval.

SAVING money is a skill not usually associated with primary school children but pupils in the borough are being given the opportunity to change that.

First Savers Clubs have been launched at two more schools with the aim of not only getting children to save their money, but also to teach them about appreciating the value of money.

The scheme was launched at Newnham Junior School in Newnham Avenue, Eastcote and Dr Tripletts CE Primary School in Hemmen Lane, Hayes, launched its club on October 1.

Brian Paul, headteacher at Dr Tripletts School, said: "I think the scheme will give them the chance to learn about the importance of money at an early age. They will learn to save money instead of spending it for the sake of it."

Hillingdon Credit Union started the clubs to help children save within their schools and learn a range of other skills, including recording deposits in savers cards and appreciating the value of money, saving and future capability.
John McDonnell MP attended the launch at Dr Tripletts School and Nick Hurd MP attended the Newnham School launch, and they have both agreed to become patrons of Hillingdon Credit Union.

Whitehall Junior School in Cowley Road, Uxbridge, is also involved with the scheme.